Dropdown init does not fire

We have a webform with several dorpdowns, these dropdowns get their datasource on the dropdown init event. also viewstate on these dropdowns have been disabled. 
Protected Sub ddlCountry_Init(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles ddlCountry.Init lang = Translator.cultlang(Session("UIlang")) ddlCountry.DataTextField = "Name" & lang ddlCountry.DataSource = From cntry In model.con_Country Order By cntry.Name Ascending ddlCountry.DataBind() End Sub it does work in development. but it won't work on production.