UNP accuses govt. of creating a ‘Casinodeepayak’

UNP Kalutara Parliamentarian Ajith P. Perera yesterday accused the government of attempting to transform the country into a ‘Casinodeepayak’ (Casino land), instead of a ‘Dharmapdeepayak’ (Land of Dhamma).Perera vehemently condemned the government for trying to use the casino business to boost the economy and called upon the Maha Nayake Theras to protest against its harebrained project and even revoke the honorary title,
Shri Rohana Janaranjana, the Maha Sangha conferred on the incumbent President after the defeat of terrorism.

MP Perera stressed that the Mahinda Chintanaya made no mention of casinos, alcohol and cigarettes as means of boosting the government revenue but they had become the main stimulants used to boost the national economy.

Attorney-at-Law Perera alleged that the government had already agreed to hand over a plot of prime land in Colombo to casino tycoon James Packer ranked Australia’s third-richest person with a fortune of US$6 billion, according to Forbes.