Casino Bill is against Constitution: Ven Sobitha

23 April 2014 04:17 pm - 13 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

People's Movement for Social Justice Chairman the Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera said today S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike’s Government in1956 closed the racecourse by banning horse racing in Colombo and replaced it with a university but this Government was going to start casinos which are much worse.

Ven. Sobitha Thera said it was against the Constitution to approve a Casino Bill in Parliament because the Government was constitutionally bound to protect Buddhism.

“Buddhism rejects gambling and alcohol which leads to the destruction of the morals of the people. So casinos are also against Buddhism. All nefarious activities will end up being centered round the casino hubs. The Government should not approve the casino bill when even the Maha Sangha and other religious leaders have advised against setting them up,” Ven. Sobitha Thera said.

Ven. Sobitha Thera told a news conference that the Government should include a clause in this bill that no gambling would be entertained.

Ven. Sobitha Thera said the Speaker should hold a secret vote on the casino bill so that the parliamentarians could vote according to their conscience.

“The All Ceylon Muslim Congress and the Jathika Hela Urumaya have announced that they would vote against this bill. We urge all the parliamentarians irrespective of their party affiliations to vote against the Bill, which would be detrimental to the religious and cultural traditions of Sri Lanka.”(Ajith Siriwardana & Yohan Perera)

Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 13

dharmapala Wednesday, 23 April 2014 11:49 PM

interest open casnios clubs, srilanka is a budhhist country but they are no opposition.

Ranjith Thursday, 24 April 2014 12:09 AM

During President Premadasa's time Casinos were every where. He was in tie up with Joe Sim. At that time no one was talking about. They allowed. we also enjoyed the casinos but was careful. Like in Singapore the Casinos should be for foreigners.

mithra Thursday, 24 April 2014 02:26 AM

During President Premadasa's time Casinos were every where. He was in tie up with Joe Sim. At that time no one was talking about. They allowed. we also enjoyed the casinos but was careful. Like in Singapore the Casinos should be for foreigners.

Do you mean to say that the Govt.should allow casinos because President Premadasa allowed it? Do not forget that it was Min.Ranjan Wijeratne who dared to expel Joe Sim and put a stop to that menace. Joe Sim was equally powerful to President P.

Devapriya Mendis Thursday, 24 April 2014 03:23 AM

What about Buddhist countries like Thailand ? how do you analyse their activities to promote tourism. Race course may have been closed & casinos must be against Buddhism but how come all these donkeys years every street corner had a bookie & a betting center promoting gambling ??? what about all the casinos & karoke bars already well patronised & booming in Colombo since Joe Sim was introduced to Sri Lanka in the eighties ? what has the rev or even unp has to say about them ? billion dollar questions

Kiris Baba Amaray Thursday, 24 April 2014 03:33 AM

Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera, I really agree with you. Ofcourse, if Casinos comes into our Nation, that's the end of SriLanka. Whoever, who loves our country truly, should vote against this bill.

Kiris Baba Amaray Thursday, 24 April 2014 03:37 AM

JHU & Muslim congress should vote against Casino bill and quit UPFA, then they are recognized as genuine politicians, Other-wise its a hanky panky drama.

Campos Thursday, 24 April 2014 04:14 AM

I am opposed to casinos, but to make them just for foreigners is sheer hypocrisy. If casinos are OK for foreign tourists, then their choice of tattoos should also be OK. Further, tattoos do not lead to prostitution, drug abuse, and any number of other crimes.

KANE Thursday, 24 April 2014 07:24 AM

Stop the casinos

naleer Thursday, 24 April 2014 04:56 PM

ACMC taken a good decision. via DM Android App

naleer Thursday, 24 April 2014 04:57 PM

alcohol n kudu does more damage than casino. via DM Android App

M.O.A.Careeem Friday, 25 April 2014 02:05 AM

when hunger is behind - one forget every thing on the earth........

kith udugama Friday, 25 April 2014 09:11 AM

Change the constitution

nl Friday, 25 April 2014 04:25 PM

Not to warry bbs police team will protect Buddhism via DM Android App

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Casino Bill is against Constitution: Ven Sobitha

Comments - 13

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

‘Spike in blast fishing’ poses renewed threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Most Viewed in News

Gota fires back at Cardinal, rebuts allegations

SL on alert on possible genocide allegations by Canada

Sri Lanka weighs Open Skies amidst plans for national carrier privatization

Uma Oya Development Project inaugurated

Man who jumped off Sri Pada Uda Maluwa and went missing, found

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali's possession of Gota’s Range Rover

MIRROR CRICKET

Sahan Arachchige to lead Sri Lanka ‘A’

Is Chamari Athapaththu Sri Lanka’s greatest cricketer ever?

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Sri Lanka to establish new energy sector regulator

Cabinet nod to transfer China-built Mattala airport’s management to Indian, Russian joint venture

Sajith never attends dinners hosted by Ranil Wickremesinghe

One soldier dead, nine injured in road crash

Sahan Arachchige to lead Sri Lanka ‘A’

Dates confirmed for 78th Bradby Shield

SLAS appoints independent committee for investigation

Pakistan lose key players for last two T20Is against New Zealand