With the parliament’s nod to legalise casinos, a few ‘casino zones’ are to be set up to lure high end tourism to the country - among them the key zone going to be al
ong the D R Wijewardena Mawatha - Beire Lake area, The Bottom Line reliably learns.Apart from that, the authorities are believed to be planning several other exclusive casino zones, including the Jaffna peninsula, which is now becoming a major tourist destination in the country.
As the country is gradually coming out of its conservative shackles, mooting this type of legislature, several foreign casino chains have expressed their interest in coming to Sri Lanka to operate casinos.
According to so
urces, Two Singaporean parties and Malaysia’s Genting Casino Group are already in touch with the Sri Lanka authorities in setting up their operations in the newly demarcated casino zones.Sources also said the US-based FEE Group which entered Sri Lanka in 2009 with a partnership with Ceylon Continental Hotel is to re-commence their operations following the new gaming regulations.
The FEE Groups official website www.feegroupplc.com reports a news item saying ‘Fee Casino in Colombo, Sri Lanka opens’.
Forei
gn media recently reported quoting Indian billionaire Rakesh Jhunjhunwala that his firm Delta is planning to arrive in Sri Lanka to operate casino resorts in the next six months.Apart from the foreign firms, speculation is rife that several local gaming operators are also looking at reaping the benefits from the new legislation by expanding their casino empires.
Although Casinos were not legally permitted in Sri Lanka before the new regulation, there were a number of casinos operating within the city limits of Colombo using regulatory loop holes.
According to sources, a young business tycoon is already operating a casino at the designated area for casinos along the D R Wijewardena Mawatha, allegedly without necessary approval.
However, dispelling further speculation that this tycoon is planning to expand using the regulatory opening, sources said that he is currently not in a position to set up new casinos due to quite complex reasons.
Even though there has emerged a school of thought against the new gaming laws, the country’s policy makers are of the view that if Sri Lanka is to attract high end tourism, a vibrant entertainment industry targeting tourists is a must.
Singapore, after approving casinos in its soil after much debate, is currently reaping benefits of it as its new positioning as a tourist destination has created high end tourist attraction to the country.
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Delta Corp Plans Casinos in Sri Lanka to Tap Surge in Tourist Arrivals
At last, Sri Lanka seems to be learning from countries like China and Singapore. As a Sri Lankan I feel this is a correct move as more and more foreign currency will come to country from this sort of industries, whether or not we fully approve of the basic idea.
ReplyDeleteFor those who oppose on moral grounds we have only this to say:-
"After all, it's economy, stupid".
I am a 17 year old female have been working in one of the leading casinos here in Colombo. We get paid a very small salary (Rs. 8000.00 per month, US$. 70) for 12 hour shifts 7 days a week where guests are allowed to smoke. It is terible working condition because most players are heavy smokers and there are no smoking rooms. Therefore all workers have to expose for 2nd hand smoking in Casinos. Owners are connected to high priest and leading politicians and nothing we could do. Politicians and monks get Thai girls for a night out and they always take the casino owners side. Smoking is illigal in Sri Lanka but not in Casinos and they promote smokers as the Casini\os give free cigarates and cigars. There are no none smoking tables for players in Casinos or proper ventilation for workers.
ReplyDeleteYeh! i have told the monks that because this is a Buddhist Country we take only foreigners. But Millionaires like Sakvithi and other Sri Lankans are always welcome. There money is illegal made money anyway. So no harm. Working girls here are not harres by customers and managers. (But some dealers do)Police Vice Scod is given free Boose and Meals every night early hours. So that they protect our Casino. They come in Uniform early hours with 119 cars too.
ReplyDeleteIf you cannot tolerate Smoking you will have to find another job. Sri Lankan roads are more polluted with vehicle smoke.
ReplyDeleteThere is a law that yo cant smoke in Public placess. You cannot even smoke in Roads. This idiot might be a person from a 3rd world country asking for these poor workers to find a another job. if some one go and rape his wife, he will find another wife. that's the kind of attitude he has. IT's Illigal Moran to smoke in any public place in Sri Lanka
ReplyDelete