Sri Lanka monk party calls on government to implement party's proposed amendments to the Gaming Bill

Sri Lanka's Buddhist nationalist party Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), a coalition member of the ruling alliance, has said the party would vote against the Gaming Levy (Special Provisions) Bill unless the amendments proposed by the party were included.

The JHU has called on the government to include the amendments proposed by the party to the new legislation during the committee stage of the debate when the Bill is taken up in parliament next week.

JHU parliamentarian Ven. Athuraliye Ratana Thero has told a press conference that while the government manages to regulate gaming centers in the country through the Bill, it also gives legality to such centers as well.

Therefore, he has said the JHU would propose amendments to the Bill.

The main opposition United National Party meanwhile has said it would vote against the Bill in parliament next week.

The opposition says the cash strapped government was desperately trying to increase its tax revenue by passing the Bill.