Casino debate causes tremors in govt.
One of the controversial gazettes tabled under the Strategic Development Projects Act that gives permission to establish and operate three Integrated Super Luxury Tourist hotels with facilities that would include gaming activities, fine dining restaurants and other associated facilities was passed in Parliament yesterday (24th) with a majority of 71 votes. 113 voted for and 41 voted against the gazette.
The leader of the group of Parliamentarians of the JHU Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera has said he opposed the gazette as the government has definitely taken measures to provide tax relief for casino.
Ministers Faizer Mustapha and A.H.M. Fouzy and National list MP Ashwer have voted for the gazette. However, Minister Champika Ranawaka of JHU, Minister Wimal Weerawansa and Weerakumara Dissanayaka of NFF as well as Ministers Rajitha Senaratna and Susil Premajayantha have not been in chambers at the time of voting. What is interesting is Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa has avoided participating in the voting process.
The conflict that erupted with the presenting of the casino gazette was a special instance that surfaced the division in the government say political analysts. Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa avoiding the voting but forcing other MPs to vote for the gazette and certain MPs and Ministers of political parties that are in the UPFA government leaving the chambers when the vote for the gazette was taken have caused tremors in the government.
With the opposition by political parties, religious organizations, religious leaders including the Mahanayakas for the casino gazettes presented earlier by the Ministry of Investment Promotion on the pretext of building a hotel complex had to be postponed by the government. However, the same gazette was presented on the 24th with a play of words to conceal the real intention of bringing in the gazette that gives all tax reliefs to casino in the country.
The JVP and the UNP stating that the government, through the gazette, provides tax relief to gamblers proposed amendments that would prevent casino in the proposed hotel complex. However, the government rejected the amendments and took measures to pass the gazette in parliament.
