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Message: <blockquote data-quote="lkdood" data-source="post: 14701779" data-attributes="member: 92282"><img src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQUEiwhF8IkpK-mtr68Te_kySBzCi5VoqvPb-7Z2fzhiP0CY4oAHw" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> Australian casino kingpin and billionaire James Packer is in Sri Lanka for a second time, to firm up what would be the island’s single largest gaming venture along with a resort in the capital, local reports said here on Wednesday. Reports said James Packer is exploring opportunities that include a 350 million U.S. dollar gaming venture in the heart of Colombo, which the Sri Lankan government is keen to develop as an entertainment center. It will be an integrated resort with a mega hotel, reported local business newspaper Daily FT. Early this month, the main opposition United National Party (UNP) MP and economist Dr. Harsha de Silva told media that the government’s hurried plans to amend 21 acts in parliament, including the Betting and Gaming Act, apparently facilitated the James Packer deal. He severely criticized the government for giving extensive tax benefits to casinos and called for more equitable tax distribution and transparent investment measures.Analysts say that Packer’s interest in Sri Lanka hinges on the massive market of India, which is right next door. Forbes in a recent article speculated that Packer’s interest in Sri Lanka is to find a bridge to lucrative India, which has strict anti-gaming laws. Already Indians compose of the largest number of tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka under flexible visa policies. Last year the island crossed the one million arrival mark and earned over one billion U.S. dollars in revenue. The government has set a target of 2.6 million tourists by 2016.  Xinhua</blockquote>

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