No to casino resort

Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter, the Most Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakhitha Thera yesterday in no uncertain terms vehemently opposed the setting up of a massive casino resort near the Sambhodhi Viharaya in Fort.

He warned he would take people to the streets if the Government went ahead with the setting up of this casino. The prelate expressed these views when he met journalists at his official residence.

He said it would not be the foreigners who would benefit by visiting Sri Lanka to engage in betting activities at these casinos but it would be our own countrymen who were becoming this country’s new elitist society which would reap the benefits of the ill-gotten gains.

The prelate said this was another ruse to send our wealth and resources abroad.

He said according to re-

The prelate said this was another ruse to send our wealth and resources abroad

ports, plans were being drawn up to open casino branches countrywide with the ultimate inten- tion of luring innocent villagers to the evils of betting and that this would be the beginning of the end of cultural values and ethics Sri Lanka has been so proud of.

The prelate deplored these plans of those with secret agendas and vested interest operating behind the scenes to siphon off the wealth and resources of Sri Lanka.