News
Casino laws coming again with word game
The Government will make a second attempt to gain parliamentary approval to grant tax concessions to two major projects that have run into controversy over allegations that the move would lead to legalising of the casino business. The amended regulations in which the words “entertainment and gaming facilities” have been replaced with the words “associated facilities”, are to be presented under the Strategic Development Projects Act. The regulations will be taken up for debate in Parliament on Thursday and Friday.
One of the projects is to be run by the Australia-based Crown Group headed by casino tycoon James Packer and the other by John Keells Holdings.
Both will “set up and operate Integrated Super Luxury Tourist Resorts”, one along D. R. Wijewardena Mawatha in Colombo 10 and the other in two phases along Glennie Street and Justice Akbar Mawatha in Colombo 2.
The main opposition UNP and the JVP have said they will oppose these regulations. Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga said yesterday they would strongly oppose the attempts to grant tax concessions for a casino-related project. The regulations grant a host of tax concessions to the investors in the two projects. They include tax holidays of up to ten years and duty concessions on the import of project-related goods.
The previous regulations which were presented to Parliament in October last year were subsequently withdrawn after an outcry by opposition political parties and religious groups who expressed fears that the legalising of casinos would ruin the culture of the country.