The United National Party today stated that it will take measures to completely prohibit casino businesses within the country when it comes to power.

Sri Lanka’s major opposition party stated that with the country’s attention being drawn towards the casino issue an important legal matter which had been hidden so far has now to light.

That is the fact that even small scale casinos currently operating in the country do not have licenses, UNP MP Ajith P. Perera said.

Not only that the Sri Lankan government has never issued licenses for bookie businesses, he said.

Perera stated that the police raid village gambling dens and produce the gamblers and operators before courts and fine them. Police even arrest people gambling at funerals and on Sinhala New Year, however no arrests are being made regarding these illegal casinos and betting centers, he charged.

He stated that these businesses cannot be deemed legal based solely on the fact that they are being taxed.

Therefore the entire society should think based on the teaching of their respective religious, turn around and tell the government that not only do they oppose the establishing of new casinos but also the existing casinos and bookie businesses, Perera said.

He stated that considering the social damage caused by these businesses, the fraction of taxes collected indirectly by the government is not important to the people.

The parliamentarians also stated that the UNP has appointed a committee comprising of MPs Karu Jayasuriya, Joseph Michael Perera, Kabir Hashim, D.M. Swaminathan and himself to look into this casino issue. 
 
He stated that after they recently convened in Parliament and considered the legal and social aspects of the matter, the committee reached the position that casino businesses will be completely eradicated from the country under a United National Party government.