The Hon. (Ms.) Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, on the Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill: we are repealing the 2010 Casino Business (Regulation) Act, No. 17, which was a mere three pages, and replacing it with a 38-page framework. The 2010 Act vested full licensing power in the Minister and had only six sections. Today some say national security and the economy are at risk, but for years there were no operative regulations. In fact, the first set of Casino Business Licensing Regulations No. 1 was issued only in August 2022. So from 2010 till then, there was effectively no regulatory environment, even while Governments sought to bring casino business into Sri Lanka.

¶ 02 The new Bill establishes an independent Authority to issue, renew, suspend, and cancel licences, and to regulate comprehensively. Under the 2010 regime, the main sanction was licence cancellation; broader compliance and enforcement tools were absent.

¶ 03 Offences are clearly set out in Part VI, Clauses 42–58—use of minors, unlawful participation, prohibited age thresholds (no one under 21 may work in these establishments), and more.

¶ 04 Importantly, the Authority’s Board must include expertise. Clause 7(2)(b) requires three members appointed by the Minister from among persons with qualifications and experience in economics, accountancy, law, or ICT, with knowledge in gambling regulation. Regulation should rest with a competent, independent body, not on Ministers or MPs.

¶ 05 Those who claim “you opposed casinos then and do them now” ignore context: earlier there was no regulatory environment; now we are establishing one. If shortcomings are found after implementation, we can amend. The Opposition should acknowledge this legal advancement rather than peddle social-media myths and half-truths, including about money printing and reserves, which have been repeatedly clarified.