Advocata researcher Sudaraka Ariyaratne has raised concerns that the passage of the Gaming Regulatory Authority Bill in its current form could lead to increased corruption and unfair profiteering. He emphasized that such outcomes would directly undermine the anti-corruption objectives of the National People’s Power (NPP) Government.
Ariyaratne urged the government not to rush the bill through Parliament, but instead to draw on the expertise of countries such as Singapore, the Philippines, and Macau, where regulatory frameworks for the gaming industry have been more effectively established.
He further warned that the bill’s shortcomings are likely to create a weak regulatory authority, preventing Sri Lanka from positioning itself as a competitive player in the regional gaming industry.
Since this is the first attempt to regulate sports and gaming in Sri Lanka, Ariyaratne stressed that it is better to address these gaps now rather than amend laws later, once they have been influenced by powerful vested interests and become entrenched.
Advocata is an independent economic research institute.
