Gaming bill, JHU wants changes

4 November 2010 07:55 am

The JHU said yesterday that they would vote against the Gaming Levy (Special Provisions) Bill unless the amendments proposed by them were incorporated in the new legislation during the committee stage in Parliament.

JHU MP Ven. Athuraliye Ratana Thera told a news conference that there are plusses and minuses in the proposed Bill now pending parliamentary approval.

“Through this Bill, the government has sought to regulate the gaming centres in the country and permit them to be operated in specified areas. Earlier, we did not have a system for that. It is a positive point. In the meantime, it appears to be giving legality to gaming centres in a way. There are certain unclear aspects of the bill. During the committee stage, we will bring some amendments to sort out these shortcomings. We are only a party to the government,” Ven. Thera said. (KB)