Deputy Tourism Minister Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe has clarified that the government is not promoting casinos for local patrons, stressing that newly opened venues like the “City of Dreams” in Colombo are primarily intended for foreign tourists.
He made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists regarding the government’s stance on casino operations in Sri Lanka.
“The government has introduced clear regulations that restrict local residents from entering casinos,” the Deputy Minister said, reaffirming that the focus is on positioning Sri Lanka as a high-end tourist destination.
Commenting on the tourism sector, he noted that Colombo currently has approximately 3,500 hotel rooms, with average occupancy hovering around 40%. He emphasized the importance of increasing this figure through international-standard entertainment offerings that attract foreign visitors. (Islandnews)
