A draft bill to establish a Gambling Regulatory Authority has been gazetted under the directives of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who also serves as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development.
The proposed legislation aims to create a regulatory body to oversee gambling activities while repealing the Horse Racing Betting Ordinance, the Gambling Ordinance, and the Casino Ordinance.
Once approved by Parliament, the bill will be enacted as the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act.
The new Authority will function as an independent entity with a wide-ranging mandate.
It will be responsible for collecting gambling-related revenues and ensuring transparency and accountability in the gambling industry.
The Authority will also play a key role in curbing illegal gambling operations and enforcing good governance practices.
The initiative is seen as a step towards modernising and regulating Sri Lanka’s gambling sector in line with international standards.
The government expects the new framework to increase state revenue and reduce illicit gambling activities.
