Shah Rukh Khan Bets Big on Sri Lanka’s Casino Controversy
Trump’s 33% Tariff Threatens to Cripple Sri Lanka’s Export Economy
Government Deceives President and Public over Crushing US Tariffs
Sajith Slams Regime’s Failure in Tax Talks, Cites National Risk
Ranil’s Secret Talks with Harini Trigger Probe Targeting Sajith’s Cultural Fund
Anura shaken
Wednesday night, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake received a disturbing phone call from Washington, USA accompanied with a letter. Caller from the other end gave shocking news to President.
President was in a state of despair as the caller stated that the US President Donald Trump has decided to impose a 30% tariff on goods imported from Sri Lanka to USA with effect from August 1st.
President was dismayed upon hearing this. He believed the story painted by the team of negotiators appointed by him to negotiate the tariff with USA and others close to President has given him a different picture about this.
President knew the gravity of this as at Present Sri Lanka earn US$ 4 billion in foreign exchange annually from exports to USA alone which is the largest contributor in terms foreign exchange earning to this country’s economy. President feels the decisive blow this new tariff could bring to the country’s economy.
Since the beginning it was clear government was not moving in the proper direction on these tariff negotiations with Trump government. Mawrata ‘inside politics’ column was the first Sri Lankan publication that warned about this impending Trump’s exorbitant tariff across the countries.
Our exposure of this saw government had not taken any serious note on this and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa on a parliamentary date in early March on a parliamentary date raised this question in the parliament.
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, who was in the House, immediately stood up and said that a special team had already been sent to America to discuss the matter. However, our investigations later revealed that what Vijitha had stated in Parliament was completely false, and that no such expert team had been sent to discuss the matter with Washington.
Sri Lanka government was caught off guard by Trump’s initials announcement of 44% tariff. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, recalling Vijitha’s speech in Parliament, asked for the names of the team that was sent to the US to discuss these tariffs, but government failed to furnish a reliable reply to this.
It is observed despite repeated intimations from Washington in this regard the government was lagging behind to initiate a proactive dialog with them had caused this to this worsen plight.
Response of other countries
Although the government followed a silent and dormant policy on Trump’s tariffs, other countries in the world had responded to it in a completely different way. Neighboring India, the Trump government had targeted India and imposed a tariff rate of 56%. The Indian government did not act in the same way as the Sri Lankan authorities.
Indian Trade Minister, who was attending a conference in India, had suspended all those activities and immediately left for Washington to continue discussions with the American authorities on the matter. In addition, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also personally went to the United States to meet President Trump and discuss this. Heads of state of other countries had also hurriedly come to the United States to meet Trump and hold discussions to minimize these tariff rates.
However, what happened on the Sri Lankan side was like once the horse ran away closing the stable. After much delay, the government took steps to appoint a committee comprising the then Deputy Finance Minister Harshana Suriyapperuma, Finance Ministry Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena, Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe and several others to hold discussions with Washington on this issue.
However, on several occasions, while going to Washington and holding discussions with the US Economic Agency, they had informed the Sri Lankan representatives that the US imports goods worth $3.8 billion annually from Sri Lanka, but Sri Lanka imports a small amount of about $400 million annually from the US.
As a result, the officials pointed out that there was an unfavorable trade deficit between the two countries for the US, and had taken steps to inform that this situation should be immediately reduced fairly and that Sri Lanka should submit proposals for this. Accordingly, government officials had informed Washington that the 88% tariff on American goods could be reduced to 0% in order to reduce the trade deficit, and that Sri Lanka was ready to purchase oil and gas from the United States.
Although the American authorities agreed to provide oil and gas at competitive prices during these discussions, in practice, problems had arisen regarding the practicality of the proposal due to the high cost of oil and gas ships from the United States arriving in Sri Lanka. In addition, Sri Lankan businessmen had also requested a 0% tax concession on a number of major items exported to the United States, including garments, tiles, and aluminum. The government had also taken steps to officially inform American representatives of this through letters exchanged between Sri Lanka and Washington.
Good News
Notably the government received very favorable signals from Washington during these talks. These signals indicated that almost all of the government’s demands were being met, and that there was a possibility of reducing the 44% tariff imposed on Sri Lanka to 10% or 15% or even lower.
This was clearly seen in the government’s response to criticisms made by SJB economic expert Harsha de Silva and some strongmen of the UNP regarding the way the government was conducting talks with the US. At that time, Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe said that a favorable message was expected to be received from the US in two days.
Minister Anil Jayantha, while participating in a media conference, had said that the opposition should not be fooled by the lies, that the talks were very beneficial for Sri Lanka, and that a joint statement on the relevant tax concessions would be issued in the future.
Also, the government had planned to allow the opposition to criticize the US, as it was already receiving favorable messages from the US, and then attack the opposition on all fours after receiving the official US announcement. The opposition, which was saying, ‘The government cannot work… No international relations… No experience in dealing with the international community…’, was to let the opposition run around saying, ‘We have shown it’ and break its legs.
In addition to the US, the government was also receiving favorable messages unofficially from the US Embassy in this country. Generally, rumors about the US Ambassador to this country, Ms. Julie Chung, are said to be a staunch Anura supporter. She was a figure who had done a great deal to bring Anura to power in the last presidential election.
Even when government officials inquired with the American Embassy regarding these tariffs, they were told that the government was set to receive a good package from the United States. Accordingly, the government was very excited and planned to ‘give a beating’ to the opposition after receiving that good package.
Was the government fooled?
But now many are questioning whether the government faced a problem in interpreting these messages received from the US side and the US embassy in a diplomatic manner. Or, the US authorities had misled the government. When the US announced revised tariff rates for several countries in the first round, Sri Lanka was not included in that list. Even when government authorities inquired about it from Washington, the response they received was that a very favorable situation had been created for Sri Lanka.
Different news for business
However, although government authorities had started receiving such good messages from all sides, major business people who do business with the US had received completely different information. The messages received by these major businessmen, who export a huge amount of goods from Sri Lanka to the US every week, had stated that the US was preparing to take a very dangerous decision targeting Sri Lanka.
Accordingly, when these businessmen investigated this matter from the highest levels of the government, the heads of the government had also informed them that there was no such dangerous situation, that Sri Lanka would receive a very favorable decision, and that they had received information that even the taxes imposed by the US on export goods such as garments, tea, and cinnamon would be reduced to 0%.
However, the official statement issued by the White House on Wednesday night stated that President Trump had taken steps to impose a 30% tariff on Sri Lanka. Accordingly, how did this change happen? How did the good news received by Sri Lanka turn into bad news? While investigating the matter, the inside politics column was informed that after discussions held by government representatives with members of the US Tax Agency, they had learned from various sources that the Tax Agency had proposed a 15% tax rate for Sri Lanka.
Accordingly, they had forwarded the relevant letter to US President Donald Trump. The tax rate, which the Tax Agency had decided to be 15%, was suddenly increased to 30% after the relevant letter was received by Trump. Accordingly, the US President has decided that the tax rate should be increased to 30% for several other countries, including Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the letter published on the White House website is as follows.
Here is the letter
Mr. President,
It is my great honor to send you this letter that demonstrates the strength and commitment of our trading relationship, and that the United States of America has agreed to continue working with Sri Lanka, despite its significant trade deficit with your great country.
We have decided to move forward with you. But only with more balanced and fair trade. Therefore, we invite you to participate in the extraordinary economy of the United States, the number one market in the world. We have spent many years negotiating our trading relationship with Sri Lanka, and we have concluded that we must move away from these long-standing and persistent trade deficits generated by Sri Lanka’s tariff and non-tariff policies and trade barriers. Unfortunately, our relationship has become too far apart.
Effective August 1, 2025, we will impose a 30% tariff on any and all Sri Lankan products shipped to the United States, separate from all sectorial tariffs. Goods shipped to avoid the higher tariff will be subject to that higher tariff.
Please understand. The 30% number is far less than what is needed to close the trade deficit we have with your country. As you know, if companies in your country, Sri Lanka, decide to build or manufacture a product in the United States, there are no tariffs, and in fact, we will do everything we can to get approval quickly, in other words, within weeks.
If for any reason you decide to increase your tariffs, whatever number you choose to increase them to will be added to the 30% we are imposing. Please understand that this tariff change is necessary to correct Sri Lanka’s tariff and non-tariff policies and trade barriers that have created these unsustainable trade deficits with the United States for many years. This deficit is a major threat to our economy and indeed to our national security.
We look forward to working with you as your trading partner for many years to come. If you are willing to open previously closed markets to the United States and remove your tariff and non-tariff policies and trade barriers, we may consider an adjustment to this article.
These tariffs may be adjusted up or down depending on our relationship with your country. You will never be disappointed in the United States of America.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Name changed
The other notable incident that was seen on the US White House website last Wednesday night in Trump’s letter regarding the tariffs imposed on Sri Lanka was that instead of the name of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, it was written as President ‘Aruna Kumara Dissanayake’. Normally, if any head of state addresses a head of state of another country and addresses it, it is considered a sign of respect to mention the name of that head of state correctly. However, the name of the Sri Lankan President was written incorrectly in the letter published on the White House website. This was first noticed by Mahinda Samarasinghe, the Sri Lankan Ambassador to the US. As soon as Mahinda noticed the mistake, he immediately called the White House and pointed out the mistake they had made.
Mahinda pointed out to the White House authorities that it was a serious mistake and an insult to a head of state. At the same time, it was a special event that the White House authorities also humbly accepted the mistake they had made and immediately apologized for it. Moreover, the White House authorities had taken steps to republish the letter on the White House website with the President’s name correctly mentioned and to provide the original copy to Ambassador Mahinda.
In this way, after the President received the relevant letter, the letter had also been received by the leading businessmen of the country through other parties. As soon as they saw the letter, the leading businessmen of the country who export goods to the United States could be seen to have stunned more than the President had.
In particular, their grievance was that they were struggling to maintain their industries even under the existing conditions, and that it was inevitable that they would no longer be able to maintain their industries through the imposition of another 30% tax. Accordingly, they immediately informed the heads of the government to somehow negotiate with the United States again and take steps to further reduce this tax. Accordingly, since this tax rate is scheduled to be implemented from August 1st, the government is preparing to negotiate with the United States again on this matter. But the specialty here is that all the discussions to be held from now on are scheduled to be held online.
Sajith’s message
In this context, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa had also issued a special Twitter message on Thursday morning regarding Trump’s 30% tariff. Sajith had alleged that Sri Lanka had to face this disadvantageous situation due to the government’s weak negotiation efforts.
‘The imposition of a 30% US tariff on Sri Lankan exports is the price we pay for weak negotiations.
Our ego prevented us from seeking every ally, every expert hand, and now exports worth nearly $3 billion have been put in jeopardy.
This is a very important case study in the dangers of relying on textbook experts for very complex real-world negotiations.’ It was stated in it.
However, it is undeniable that with the imposition of Trump’s 30% tariff, the Sri Lankan garment industry will have to face a very difficult situation. Even before the imposition of this tax, a German garment company operating in Katunayake took steps to withdraw from Sri Lanka.
Also, Gautam Adani, a leading investor in India, has already taken steps to withdraw from Sri Lanka by suspending his investment in a renewable energy project. Japan had already taken steps to sell all its shares in the Colombo Port Dockyard to India and withdraw. After the imposition of the tax, Trump has already stated that since a tax-free environment has been created for investment in the country, garment companies in Sri Lanka should come and invest in the country. It goes without saying that if such a situation arises, the country will have to face a serious economic crisis as well as a serious employment crisis in the future.
Sajith Questions
Amidst all this, the opposition accuses the government of using the process of catching thieves as the only trump card it is currently using to overcome the resistance it is facing. The Criminal Investigation Department and the Bribery Commission summon opposition politicians almost daily, and occasionally arrest them. Cases are also being filed against them in court.
Various interpretations are currently emerging in society regarding this, and the opposition accuses the government of launching this process of catching thieves according to a certain political agenda. They also believe that the government is trying to put all the opposition figures in prison and contest the upcoming elections in a one-horse race. They are also accusing the government of releasing containers without any inspection and of several other corrupt incidents that have occurred within the government. Their stance is that the investigations are being expedited by chasing opposition figures and that strict action should be taken regarding the container incident for which the government has been accused.
In the midst of all this, last week, the current government also launched a certain operation that two former presidents tried to execute and failed.
That was initiating an investigation into the allegation that there had been misuse of funds during the time that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa was in charge of the Central Cultural Fund.
This allegation was first leveled by the UNP leaders themselves with the aim of politically destroying Sajith. Accordingly, the investigations into that allegation first began under the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government that came to power in 2019.
As soon as Mahinda became Prime Minister, UNP’s Ranil had sent messages after messages to Mahinda asking him to start attacking Sajith. Since Sajith had already left the UNP and had laid the blueprint for a long political journey by building the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, the aim of the UNP leaders was to destroy Sajith’s politics.
Accordingly, the messages they sent to Mahinda stated that there had been misuse of funds from the Central Cultural Fund during Sajith’s tenure, and that if the UNP could help, they could provide assistance. They had shown Mahinda that Sajith’s politics could be ended through that.
Initially, when this message came, Mahinda said that Sajith had taken money from the Central Cultural Fund and spent it on the construction and renovation of temples, churches and kovils, and since the money had been spent on a religious purpose, it was a good cause and therefore no action could be taken in this regard. However, due to continued pressure from the UNP, Mahinda finally agreed to initiate an investigation to investigate Sajith.
Accordingly, complaints were submitted to the Bribery Commission and the COPE Committee. Although two investigation reports were issued in this regard, none of them revealed that Sajith had misused money, and steps were taken to free him from those allegations. The Bribery Commission also sent a special letter stating that it had decided not to investigate the matter since sufficient facts were not disclosed to act under the Bribery Commission.
Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, who came to power after Gota, also initiated an investigation into the Central Cultural Fund to end Sajith’s politics through the COPE Committee. At that time, Sajith was attacked in Parliament by none other than Mahindananda Aluthgamage, who is said to have fulfilled the biggest contract for Ranil.
Also, Professor Ranjith Bandara, who was the chairman of the COPE Committee at that time, was with Ranil. Accordingly, a special committee was appointed to investigate this matter at Ranil’s request, and the committee was unable to uncover anything beyond slander and defamation. Former President Gotabaya, who went on to slander Sajith, had no place to stand. Mahinda’s political journey has also ended. Today, Ranil has lost the presidential election and gone home.
Mahindananda sentences to prison for 20 years. Ranjith Bandara has not even found a place to stay in Parliament. Now Anura has set out to carry out the third operation to finish off Sajith after Gota and Ranil. It is impossible to say where it will end.
Ranil knew in advance
The most special information that came to this column was that a special discussion had been held at Ranil’s office in Flower road a few days before Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya appointed the relevant committee. These days, Ranil is bringing in former UNP, Pohottuwa and SLFP MPs and ministers who were close to him in politics individually and holding discussions, and at one point, it is said that the political operations being carried out by the government these days by chasing opposition MPs were also discussed.
Several names of certain former MPs and ministers who are to be arrested and imprisoned in the future were mentioned, and suddenly Sajith’s name was also seen coming out of the mouth of a former UNP strongman. At that time, he said, ‘It will not be easy for Sajith either. The day after tomorrow, we are going to investigate again about what happened in his cultural fund…’.
This incident was also reported to us on the same day, and a few days later, Harini made a special statement on this matter. Accordingly, the fact that this was discussed in advance during Ranil’s discussion has raised the question of whether there is any deal between the government and Ranil.
On the other hand, the government has said on numerous occasions in the past that the law will be enforced against those responsible for the Central Bank bond scam. The Batalanda murderers will be severely punished according to the Presidential Commission report. But now all that has been limited to words. Despite this, the current government is preparing to target Sajith and initiate an investigation into him for the third time.
Wimal break the silence
After a long political silence, Wimal Weerawansa, who was once considered one of the strongest figures in the country’s political arena, has once again entered active politics.
Last week, Wimal also released a political song titled ‘Kageda Me Munissam’. Wimal, who started politics with the JVP, later joined Mahinda Rajapaksa, but took steps to abandon politics with the Rajapaksas during Gota’s government. After that, Wimal and Udaya Gammanpila tried to start a new political journey together with ‘Sarva Jana Balaya’ leader Dilith Jayaweera, but later it was seen that Wimal left Dilith. Now only a few of those who did politics with the Pohottuwa in the past are left with Dilith.
S.M. Chandrasena of the Pohottuwa, who joined Dilith, is currently in remand prison. Many others who were with Dilith have also been accused of corruption in this way.
However, the main incident that led Wimal to come out after a short silence was the release of 323 container trucks from customs without any inspection under the current government. In a context where MPs were even summoned to the Criminal Investigation Department due to their comments on these containers under parliamentary privileges, Wimal took the step of fearlessly expressing his views on these 323 containers to the media.
Wimal is usually not one to express his views without evidence in hand. Accordingly, Wimal went to the Criminal Investigation Department last week to give a statement regarding these containers and came out and made another serious revelation to the media. At that time, Wimal said that an ethanol container had also been released with this container stock. Wimal said that the ethanol container belonged to someone who had provided financial assistance to build a stage for the Compass in the past and that he had spent money on the film based on Wijeweera. Wimal had answered the questions asked by journalists as follows.
‘Did you give the statement? What happened’?
‘Yes, the Western Province Governor is the owner of Expo Lanka and now he says he has nothing to do with it. It was on the basis of a complaint that he was summoned today to question me regarding the revelations made regarding the media conference I held. Finally, after giving the statement, I was asked to read it and refer it back to a higher official before signing it’.
‘So, since I could not wait for it to be sent to a higher official and read it again and come back, since it was already too late for me to see a doctor, I left there on the promise that I would come back another day to sign and give another statement if needed. I first informed them that I had a short time. I would give the necessary statement during that time’.
‘This is the report of the committee of inquiry conducted on the news that 323 import containers were released without customs inspection. This involves officials from the Ministry of Finance and other institutions. This committee report itself states the facts we have said. It is stated in this committee report that it is a very serious mistake to release out 151 containers belonging to the red list without any inspection’.
Also, this committee expresses doubts about whether the congestion of containers was natural or artificial. This committee report also states doubts about the fact that 323 were taken out without inspection. I said in the previous press conference that there are containers belonging to Expo Lanka inside this. Accordingly, the Governor of the Western Province issued a statement and said that he is no longer associated with Expo Lanka. Otherwise, he did not say that there are no containers belonging to Expo Lanka inside these 323.
‘I also revealed today that there were ethanol containers belonging to a Sri Lankan currently residing in America who had used money to produce a film on the biography of Rohana Wijeweera and who had used all the money to create the stage for the last election period of the JVP’.
‘However, I was not able to sign the final document. When that senior person checked it and said that I would be allowed to sign only after that, I came because I had a time problem. I said that I would inform me of another date and I would come to sign’.
‘When you have to come back’?
‘They didn’t say a date. They will let me know.
Did you give the necessary information’?
‘I gave the facts that I know. I also gave a copy of this report. They didn’t have a copy of this report. They also gave a copy of this report to the CID. That’s why 323 containers of their political cronies, 323 containers of wealthy people who helped them in the election, came out. They can’t get away with sending it through the Director General of Customs. Bimal Ratnayake publicly said that he would accept that responsibility. Only the Finance Minister has the power to tell the CID to release a container or a container without inspection’.
Then the Finance Minister has now appointed this committee. The committee says that this is wrong. That a mistake has been made here. So when they say that, is there any point in questioning us? So now we need to bring that committee and question it to the CID. Why did you guys release such a report? Wimal said.
What we can see from this revelation by Wimal is that Wimal has a lot of special evidence in this regard. Accordingly, Wimal must be ready to release it at a specific time.
On the other hand, Wimal made another special revelation at another media conference held last week. While we can laugh at that revelation on one hand, we must say that we feel sad on the other.
Wimal made an unspoken comment regarding Dilith Jayaweera. Dilith is the head of the Derana media network. The speciality of this speech by Wimal is that these days there is a big discussion about politics and the media being discussed in society.
Many media owners have entered politics directly or indirectly. While some media owners are directly involved in politics, it noted that the children of other media owners are involved in politics. The most remarkable thing to see there is the way these owners have used their media to control politicians and political parties, directly or indirectly. In short, some channels have now become political channels instead of being populist channels. Wimal, while showing the microphones with the logos of Derana and Sirasa channels at this media briefing, stated that Derana has now become the same as Sirasa. Wimal sarcastically said that they do not broadcast his stories in them.
One thing must be said here. Any media has the right to hold a political opinion in principle. It also has the right to support a political party. Channels in countries like America, Britain, and India also hold political opinions, and during election seasons, those channels also publicly declare that they support these or those parties. However, they also allow other opinions on their channels.
But the use of media in our country has not yet reached such an advanced democratic state. One of the accusations leveled at the media in Sri Lanka is that they are also making deals with various parties. After the last local government election, there was also a public accusation that the owners of these media channels made deals with various parties when selecting the chairmen of local government institutions that did not receive a majority. However, many believe that the attack that Wimal made after some time is very serious and that it will not stop there.
How did Jayaweera come?
Two weeks ago, we revealed through the column that a serious crisis had arisen within the party when nominating a person for the vacant Malaima National List MP seat from Harshana Suriyaparuma. Accordingly, it was seen that the filling of that MP seat had been delayed continuously. A discussion held within the party last week, it was emphasized that the time taken to nominate that MP seat was too long and that steps should be taken to fill the vacancy immediately. However, due to various names being proposed, some disagreements arose and it was seen that it was delayed day by day.
However, against such a backdrop, an MP was suddenly sworn in last week for the vacant Malaima seat. He was Nishantha Jayaweera. However, since such a person had never been mentioned in JVP politics, many people had started to investigate who he was. While searching, some social media outlets had reported that he was a contemporary of Vijitha at the same Kelaniya University that Anura and Vijitha studied. It was also said that he had worked as an additional secretary in a ministry and as an acting commissioner in the Excise Department.
Accordingly, why had the JVP suddenly taken steps to nominate the name of someone without a political background to this position? When many questioned this, some had said that this was an interim appointment selected until the Malaima-JVP tug-of-war was over and a specific MP was nominated.
Otherwise, since the media has been continuously questioning this issue, it is clear that an intermediary external figure not related to Malaima or the JVP has been nominated from the empty national list. It is also reported that Vijitha Herath has suggested that this person should be given the MP post until the tug of war between the Compass and the JVP for the relevant MP post is resolved. Accordingly, the information currently available suggests that the conflict of opinion between the JVP and the Compass for the relevant MP post has not yet ended. What has happened is that an outsider has been brought into the limelight as a temporary solution.
Casino issue
Two weeks ago, we revealed in a special report from the column that the largest casino complex in Sri Lanka is scheduled to open on August 2nd at the City of Dreams Hotel in Colombo, and that Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is scheduled to be the chief guest, and that his fee alone has been one million dollars. Accordingly, this time we expect to reveal another unique situation related to it.
The first foundation stone to bring James Packer, known as the world’s casino king, to Sri Lanka was done by than president Mahinda Rajapaksa. At that time, James Packer was a billionaire who had built an international casino empire. Accordingly, Mahinda gave the large land opposite Lake House for the project and gave the necessary approval to build a huge hotel and casino project there. It was coordinated by a prominent businessman in the country.
This caused a explosion within Mahinda’s government for the opening of Sri Lanka’s doors to this casino king. The UNP and the JVP, who were in the opposition at the time, strongly opposed it, and the Maha Sangha took to the streets and launched a massive protest campaign. Even the Malwathu and Asgiri Theros issued statements against it this.
When Mahinda’s casino proposal was openly opposed by, groups within the government including Champika Ranawaka and Udaya Gammanpila. Eventually, they publicly resigned from their ministerial posts in Mahinda’s government and challenged the government. The end result was the collapse of Mahinda’s government.
With this it was said the country lost billions of dollars in investment opportunities that were supposed to come to the country under Mahinda’s government. If Packer had come to Sri Lanka at that time, Sri Lanka would have become the destination of millionaire businessmen who go to Singapore and Maldives to play casino games.
Although the JVP opposed Mahinda’s casino proposal, today there is a JVP-led Compass government try to initiate this by issuing a casino license.
Information being reported now suggests that there is a big problem behind the issuance of this casino license. A certain company had previously tried to start this casino project during the previous Yahapalana government. When the proposal was brought before the heads of the Yahapalana government, the Maha Sangha started voicing massive opposition against it, just like during Mahinda’s time.
But the Ranil faction of the Yahapalana government had not taken any notice of that opposition and had taken steps to issue a casino license at that time. However, due to the opposition of the Maha Sangha, the then Speaker Karu Jayasuriya intervened to resolve the issue. As a result, the then President Maithripala Sirisena immediately took action and took steps to cancel it.
Maithripala took steps to cancel the casino licenses issued by the Ranil faction to companies such as Waterfront Properties, Lake Leisure Holdings, and Queensbury Leisure Limited under tax concessions through a cabinet paper dated 2015.01.31, the cabinet paper was unanimously passed stating that no permission should be given to start a casino halls or to provide any tax concession to the relevant hotel premises. The cabinet paper is shown below.
In such a situation, several serious problems have arisen regarding the sudden reopening of a casino on the same premises. Under the current law, a tax of 45% of the income of casinos must be paid to the government.
But the question is under which president did the issuance of casino licenses, which was unanimously abolished by Maithripala’s cabinet, resume after three presidents, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
If permission was granted, where is the relevant cabinet paper? The other question is whether the law that was imposed at that time that did not provide tax concessions to casinos was also valid when issuing casino licenses this time.
Many are of the opinion that those responsible for granting permission to this casino should also provide answers to these questions. If not, there is a high possibility that this issue will be brought to court in the future, according to the information received by this column.
