No large casino complexes in Sri Lanka

The government of Sri Lanka has decided not to allow the creation of the luxurious casino hotels worth 1.3 billion dollar in the capital city Colombo, and yielded to the many political and religious opponents of the project.
It was the Minister of Economic Development, Basil Rajapaksa, that announced this statement just a few days after the main opposition to the project, the United National Party, had organised a demonstration in Colombo.
They accused the government of encouraging prostitution.
Political parties controlled by powerful fundamentalist Buddhist clergy are also strongly opposed to the creation of large casino complexes in the country.
Sri Lanka had are already authorised the creation of land based casinos in their territory, but they are only small establishments, and were legalised after the law of 2010.
With the three large complexes in Colombo, the government hoped to launch an upscale industry in the country in order to boost the local economy with tourism.
They regarded the project as a necessary evil to rebuild the country that was ravaged by decades of civil war with separatist Hindus.
However, the recent statements by the Minister of Economic Development are clear: the government will not allow these types of casinos now, or at a later time.