Controversial Sri Lankan casinos unlikely to take off

  Sri Lanka’s top Government economist-turned foreign office deputy said on Wednesday that it  was unclear whether the three proposed casinos which drew a lot of criticism will take off. “We were to have three casinos to bring in large (tourist) arrivals. Whether those casinos will pop up is a question,” acting Foreign Minister Harsha de Silva told a SAARC forum on tourism in Colombo on Wednesday evening. Three mega casinos from Australian James Packer-Sri Lankan Ravi Wijeratne combine, Dhammika Perera casino group and at the John Keells mega Waterfront project drew criticism from the Buddhist clergy and others when it was approved by the former Mahinda Rajapaksa regime. It was then suspended. Latest reports indicate that John Keells has abandoned the idea of a casino at its project while the other proposals are unlikely to materialize. Economist De Silva, who moved from an economic planning portfolio to foreign affairs with a specific focus on a new policy of economic diplomacy, made these comments while stating that the tourism industry was gearing for 2.5 million travellers (in 2015) and building more rooms. (Sunimalee)