AceShowbiz - Akon has found a new country to host the Sri Lankan concert he was forced to abandon last week following a protest by local Buddhists - he will now play the planned show in the Maldives. The "Smack That" singer was due to perform in Colombo on April 24 but the date was scrapped when Buddhist activists staged an angry protest against a sacrilegious video outside the headquarters of the promoters - prompting immigration authorities to cancel the star's visa.

The activists were upset after spotting scantily-clad women dancing in front of a Buddha statue in Akon's new video "Sexy Chick". Akon apologized for the furore, insisting he had no idea about the statue and was unaware he had offended religious groups. But he was still forced to accept the date would never take place.

Now, however, the star's planned date has been saved thanks to government officials in the Maldives after they reached out to the singer with the proposal. Akon's rep has yet to officially comment on the reports but President Mohamed Nasheed's press secretary Mohamed Zuhair claims the hitmaker has accepted the offer to play in the Maldives.

Zuhair says, "We are very happy he is planning to come and perform." The concert is scheduled to take place a day earlier than planned, on April 23.