Sri Lanka says no to casinos

Sri Lanka has finally decided that they will not allow casinos in the three mega-resorts proposed for the country amid fears it will lead to prostitution.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapakse said, “Developers, including Packer, wanted casinos to be part of all three luxury resorts, but the government rejected the plans.”

One of the resorts planned was by billionaire casino mogul James Packer with total investment by all three resorts at $1.3 billion now in jeopardy as it is unclear whether all or any of the resorts will now go ahead without casinos being allowed.

“We will not allow casinos. That we say very clearly,” Rajapakse told parliament. “They (the developers) asked, we did not allow, nor will we allow in the future.”

Although the danger of prostitution was not mentioned in the communication from the minister, many of the opposition groups brought up the issue along with fears of moral decline.

“We voted against these concessions as a warning to the government to correct its course,” Buddhist monk and legislator in the government Athuraliya Rathane said.

James Packer’s proposed Crown Sri Lanka resort with 450 rooms had featured on its website that they would offer “world-class gaming facilities” at the resort. It is now uncertain whether Crown will continue with the resort after the government decision.