Media outlets in Sri Lanka are reporting that the government has received ten applications for new casinos, but that approval has yet to be granted. This is according to a statement by State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya who recently revealed the information in response to a question raised by a member of parliament.
“We have brought in new laws pertaining to casinos and therefore a sum of Rs. 500 million will be charged when granting a license for a period of five years. We also intend to increase entrance fees for casinos. Our intention is to discourage locals from going into casinos,” the State Minister said according to newspaper Sri Lanka Mirror. “We have to introduce casinos to attract tourists so that it would be possible to increase state revenue. If not, we will have to depend on taxes charged from locals to increase state revenue,” he added.
The government has already granted licenses to two new casinos including one in the sacred city of Kandy, a move that was openly criticised by officials. Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella is on record as saying “I request the government and the minister not to bring casinos to Kandy. Not only to Kandy but also to other cities with sacred areas such as Anuradhapura and Adam’s Peak should not be selected to set up casinos,” according to a local newspaper.
