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.
Related Info:
Delta Corp Plans Casinos in Sri Lanka to Tap Surge in Tourist Arrivals
