Govt.’s intention to create a SL self sufficient in casinos:Sobhitha Thera
The Government was attempting to create a Sri Lanka that is self sufficient in casinos by setting up six casino zones in the country, the Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera said yesterday.
The Thera expressed these views at a panel discussion held in public library auditorium which was organised by the Joint Organisation against Casinos, a collective of religious, intellec- tual and civil society representatives. “The government is making arrangements to set up six casino zones in Sri Lanka and to expand these casinos
into villages in order to create a Sri Lanka self sufficient in Casinos,” the Thera said, adding that one zone would be set up in Katana.
He said the issues of crime, bribery, child abuse and drug trafficking that the country had already faced would be aggravated with the introduction of casinos.The Thera asked how the government was proceeding with the casino project despite the continuous protests by religious and civil organisations if there was democracy in the country.
“We are urging the government not to proceed with this destructive move and not to forward a casino bill in the parliament. The parliamentarians should not vote in favour if the government does proceed with the bill,” the Thera said.
Speaking at the event, United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said the authorities were trying to corrupt the minds of people who stood with a clear mindset even during the invasions of Kalinga Maga, Dutch, Portuguese and British.
Mr. Wickremesinghe said that he had learned that arrangements were being made to establish a casino in Udawatta, near the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy.
He said the next step of the campaign against casinos would be to make people aware of the negative consequences of casinos.
“The most difficult part of the campaign was to bring the organisations and political parties together to fight against casinos. We achieved that today. Now what we have to do is to reach the villagers and make them aware of the negative consequences of casinos,” he said.
Mr. Sarath Fonseka, the leader of the Democratic Party, said the country which was blessed with a great civilization and culture, would not be able to bear the damage caused by casinos. Promising the support of his party for the campaign to oppose the setting up of casinos, Mr. Fonseka said the best strategy would be to create an initiative to fight against all the faults and flaws of the government and not merely dealing with one issue at a time.
“I remember there was a move against the executive presidency some time ago, but it didn’t come to a successful conclusion. I hope that fate won’t befall this,” he said.
Parliamentarian Arjuna Ranatunga expressed his concern over the selection of Australian brand ambassadors for the proposed casino in Sri Lanka.
“The Australian authorities who are to establish a casino here have selected the Australian Cricket team captain and the wife of a late cricket celebrity as their ambassadors to promote casinos in Sri Lanka. As a cricket loving country, the people will get the wrong impression by this move,” he said.