The Committee on Public Finance (COPF) has instructed the establishment of a special monitoring mechanism for the importation of casino machines, according to its Chairman, Dr. Harsha de Silva.
He stated that while the committee granted approval for the importation, it was important to ensure proper oversight. “The government sought COPF approval to lift import restrictions imposed during the economic crisis. I noticed that casino equipment was included in that list, so with the committee’s agreement, I directed the creation of a special mechanism to monitor each machine imported,” Dr. de Silva told the Daily Mirror.
He further expressed concern over the current lack of a comprehensive regulatory framework for casino operations. “The existing law only establishes a casino regulator, but it lacks the necessary regulations to manage casino operations. In countries like Singapore, there are two separate laws — one for the regulator and another for operational control,” he explained.
Dr. de Silva also warned that the government appears to be moving toward legalizing junket operations without proper regulatory safeguards. Additionally, he highlighted the absence of regulation and taxation for online casinos, which he described as another major issue.
