The site for the Crown casino resort in Columbo
The Sri Lankan government will attempt for the third time this week to push through legislation to legalise casinos so that three casino resorts can be built on the island. However strong opposition is planned again to stop the proposals from within the government and outside, with the main ruling coalition partner the United National Party (UNP) threatening protests outside the areas earmarked for building the resorts.
This will become the third time in a year the government has attempted to introduce a bill to allow for casino resorts in Sri Lanka, one of which is owned by Australian billionaire James Packer. In total the three resorts will cost $1.3 billion to build and the government say will create much needed jobs along with eventually generate tax income for the country.
Last year following protests, the government removed the word “casino” from the draft bill and inserted the phrase “mixed development projects,” which the UNP claims is just a euphemism for casinos.
International industry observers say it is unclear whether the government will be successful this time around to push through the bill even thou they hold a 60% majority in parliament as the opposition groups hold a lot of power and feel that the government are offering to0 much to casino developers in the way of tax breaks to build casino resorts.
