News
Govt. planning to issue seven new Casino licences: Ranawaka
By Saman Indrajith
Leader of the 43 Brigade and newly formed United Republic Front MP Champilka Ranawaka says that the government is planning to issue seven new casino licences.
“Arrangements are being made to issue seven new licences while the Finance Ministry and other responsible institutions have failed to collect at least a single dollar as tax revenue for the past 28 years from four casino licenses that had already been issued,” Ranawaka said on Tuesday (23) participating in the second reading debate on the Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) Bill.
“Casinos have been in operation in this country for the past 28 years. If we go through available records it is discernible that casinos have not even operated properly as per regulations. Many have been functioning above the laws and regulations in a very haphazard manner. There are only four of them that have been operating under proper licensing. They too have not paid their due taxes to the government. Several types of taxes are levied on casinos. The four casinos have circumvented the regulations and refrained from paying a single dollar as taxes during the past 28 years. Without streamlining the tax collecting means to make the existing four casinos comply with the regulations, the government is planning to give seven more licenses. Increasing the number of casinos has nothing to do with promoting tourism because in countries such as Singapore, and Malaysia, each has only three to four casinos while their tourism performs better than us. You do not need hundreds of casinos to attract tourists but only well regulated, properly functioning few which regularly pay their due taxes to the government,” Ranawaka said.
Mikhail Murashko, Minister of Health of the Russian Federation, officially visited the Russian House in Colombo to attend the Sri Lanka–Russia Medical Forum, where members of the Sri Lanka Russia Business Council and graduates from the Association of Sri Lankan Graduates from Socialist countries (ASLGSC) attended.
This historic gathering was graced by rectors and representatives from several world-class Russian medical institutions, including Kursk State Medical University, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, and Tver State Medical University, among others.
The forum commenced with an address by Minister Murashko, during which Russian medical graduates in attendance raised pertinent questions regarding medical and pharmaceutical sector opportunities in Sri Lanka.
Levan Dzhagaryan, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, together with Madam Maria L. Popova, Counsellor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka & the Maldives and Director of the Russian House in Colombo, graced the occasion. Both officials expressed strong support for continued collaboration and future initiatives between the two nations.
The official appointment letters for the members of the newly established “Cricket Transformation Committee” (CTC) were handed over on Monday (04) by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.
The following members received their letters of appointment at the Ministry premises:
Sidath Wettimuny
Thushira Radella
Prakash Schaffter
Ms. Avanthi Colombage
The Ministry also noted that veteran cricketers Roshan Mahanama and Kumar Sangakkara, who are key members of the committee, are currently overseas. Their official appointments will be formalised immediately upon their arrival in Sri Lanka.
The Cricket Transformation Committee has been mandated to oversee the administration and drive structural reforms within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in accordance with the powers vested in the Minister under the Sports Act No. 25 of 1973.
Three prison guards attached to the Welikada Prison have been arrested by Borella Police following the death of an inmate on Monday (04).
Minister of Health of the Russian Federation attends the Sri Lanka–Russia Medical Forum
Members of Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee Officially Appointed
Three prison guards arrested following the death of an inmate
Showers or thundershowers will occur at most places of the island after 1.00 pm.
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