IntelScoops

Colombo, Sri Lanka|

Deputy Tourism Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe on Monday clarified the government’s stance on casino operations in Sri Lanka, stating that regulations have been put in place specifically to restrict local residents from entering casinos, despite the launch of new high-profile venues in Colombo.

Speaking to reporters, Ranasinghe noted that entertainment complexes such as the recently opened “City of Dreams” — a multi-billion-rupee integrated resort featuring a casino — are designed to attract foreign tourists, not to encourage gambling among locals.

“The government is not promoting casinos for our citizens. There are strict controls in place. These are part of a broader tourism strategy, aimed at bringing in foreign currency and boosting post-crisis economic recovery,” Ranasinghe said.

A History of Opposition from the JVP and NPP

The casino industry in Sri Lanka has long been the target of fierce opposition from left-leaning political groups, particularly the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and its offshoot, the National People’s Power (NPP).

During the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration in the early 2010s, the JVP organized several large-scale street protests and parliamentary campaigns against proposed casino projects, alleging that such developments would lead to “moral decay,” money laundering, and foreign exploitation.

More recently, the NPP has criticized the current government for allegedly using casinos as a means to whitewash economic mismanagement through foreign investor inflows, while failing to provide clear oversight and social protections.

In several public rallies over the past year, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake accused the government of “selling national dignity for short-term revenue,” pointing to casino-related incentives offered to developers as part of broader investment packages.

Despite the political resistance, the government maintains that Sri Lanka’s casino industry is now modeled after Singapore’s restricted-access policy, where locals are either barred or heavily taxed to discourage participation.

With the City of Dreams Colombo now operational — a venture backed by global investors — authorities say they are committed to ensuring regulatory compliance, tourism development, and safeguarding societal values.

Still, the issue remains politically sensitive as 2025’s economic hardship and widening inequality continue to raise questions about the government’s priorities — and the ethics of relying on gambling-related income to fund development.