Sri Lanka poised to legalise gambling

[GoFlyKiteNow]

Sri Lanka poised to legalise gambling
AFP, Nov 10, 2010, 12.16pm

Top international operators may set up shop with eye on rich visitors from neighboring India. The bill is likely to be passed, as the government has a comfortable majority in parliament.


COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's parliament is Wednesday set to pass a controversial law to legalise gambling, which the opposition opposes on the grounds that it will increase prostitution.

The government is rushing through legislation that will empower President Mahinda Rajapakse, who also acts as the minister of finance, to grant licences to set up gambling establishments in specified areas.

Casinos and horse-racing bookies have been operating in Sri Lanka for decades, exploiting loopholes in the law to avoid an official ban on gambling.

The government is now proposing to outlaw gambling outlets completely after 2012 unless they obtain a licence. Violators will be subjected to a fine of 45,000 dollars and a five-year jail term.

The opposition is nevertheless opposed to the bill, saying it will lead to de facto red-light districts because of the association of prostitution and gambling.

The bill is likely to be passed, as the government has a comfortable majority in parliament.

The bill, which will be taken up for debate later Wednesday, aims to "provide for the designation of areas in which persons intending to start the business of gaming can set up their establishments."

Sri Lanka's booming tourism industry is keen to set up more entertainment to attract high-spending fun-seekers. Some casinos in the city are also known as pick-up points for foreign and local prostitutes.

The government has recently banned billboards showing scantily clad women, following protests by Buddhist monks, but the country has a vibrant nightlife.

The number of tourists visiting the island has risen sharply after nearly four decades of ethnic conflict came to an end in May last year.

 

[longbow]

I thot they do not like India for funding the Tamil Tigers and creating a civil war that tore apart the country.

In the end it was with Beijing's military assistance in the form of weapons, $ and advisors that allowed the Tigers to be demolished.

Having said that, it is a good idea to create casinos but Colombo is probably highly wary of India influence.

 

[KennyMGM]

I thot they do not like India for funding the Tamil Tigers and creating a civil war that tore apart the country.

In the end it was with Beijing's military assistance in the form of weapons, $ and advisors that allowed the Tigers to be demolished.

Having said that, it is a good idea to create casinos but Colombo is probably highly wary of India influence.

u talkin bullshit. china got nothing with defeating the tamil rebels.

into anything and everything you bring china as the reason for anything good happen. and the facts get distorted. that is your problem.
or is it ur habit ?

 

[drew21close]

China was just related to the issue. It was just drag into it but had nothing to do with it.
This country has its own pros and is capable to protect its people.

 

[longbow]

OK here is article from Times of India.

In short China dumped close to $1B in arms, Pakistan another $100m. Read another article that there was lots of technical know how given too - intelligence info,

Basically China offered a way to end the conflict in exchange for access to Sri lanka's ports. After 20 years of war, Colombo said ok and in exchange got the weapons needed to clobber the Tamil Tigers.

Given that is is TOI article there is an Indian bias to it but it gives a clear picture of how Colombo completely crushed the Tigers.


NEW DELHI: China's declaration of support for the Sri Lankan government against the LTTE, apart from sticking out like a sore thumb in the eyes of the world, has further fuelled India's mortal distrust of its largest and most powerful neighbour. While India has a much more nuanced position over the issue owing to its domestic compulsions, an unfettered China is supporting Colombo and, in the process, authenticating India's fear about Beijing extending its influence in the Indian Ocean.

According to government sources, Beijing's support to Colombo cannot be viewed in isolation because it follows a series of initiatives aimed at influencing the Sri Lankan government. These include selling huge quantities of arms to Colombo last year and boosting aid almost five times to $1 billion. In fact, China is now the largest donor to Lanka. Its Jian-7 fighter jets, anti-aircraft guns and JY-11 3D air surveillance radars played a key role in the Sri Lankan military successes.

China came to rescue of Colombo after the US stopped direct aid to Sri Lanka because of its dismal human rights record. What's worse, said strategic affairs expert Brahma Chellaney, Beijing has also roped in its ally Pakistan for providing military assistance to Lanka. Pakistan's own economy is in tatters, but it has increased its annual military assistance to Sri Lanka to $100 million at Beijing's behest. It is also well known that its air force trained its Sri Lankan counterpart in precision-guided attacks.

"The Chinese are courting Sri Lanka because of its location in the Indian Ocean -- a crucial international passageway for trade and oil. Chinese engineers are currently building a billion-dollar port in the country's southeast, Hambantota, and this is the latest `pearl' in China's strategy to control vital sea-lanes of communication between the Indian and Pacific Oceans by assembling a `string of pearls' in the form of listening posts, special naval arrangements and access to ports,'' said Chellaney.

The Chinese are building a highway, developing two power plants and putting up a new port in the hometown of President Mahinda Rajapakse. Delhi is also feeling hard done-by by Beijing's support to Colombo over the issue of LTTE because it believes China is driving home an unfair advantage it has over India in the crisis. "Unlike in our case, there is no moral dimension to the crisis for China. We have to think about the humanitarian situation and conditions after the offensive is over. There is no domestic compulsion for China but our involvement is much more intricate,'' said a source.

China, in fact, continues to aggressively pursue its strategic interests by building ports in the Indian Ocean rim, including in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. According to Chellaney, Beijing has sought naval and commercial links with the Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar. "However, none of the port-building projects it has bagged in recent years can match the strategic value of Hambantota,'' said Chellaney.


Read more: India upset with China over Sri Lanka crisis - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...-crisis/articleshow/4449209.cms#ixzz14zMbCqy6

u talkin bullshit. china got nothing with defeating the tamil rebels.

into anything and everything you bring china as the reason for anything good happen. and the facts get distorted. that is your problem.
or is it ur habit ?

 

[GoldenDragon]

Thailand on the way too. That will not be in S'pore's interest coz all things are cheaper in Land of Smiles. And more enjoyable too.

 

[Ramseth]

Thailand on the way too. That will not be in S'pore's interest coz all things are cheaper in Land of Smiles. And more enjoyable too.

Thailand's alright to contemplate casinos. Phuket and Pattaya would be ideal for casino resorts if they don't want casinos in big cities like Bangkok. Sri Lanka? Frankly, I've never been there and I don't know. It never strikes me as touristy country with a traditional tourist base to begin with.

 

[GoldenDragon]

Thailand's alright to contemplate casinos. Phuket and Pattaya would be ideal for casino resorts if they don't want casinos in big cities like Bangkok. Sri Lanka? Frankly, I've never been there and I don't know. It never strikes me as touristy country with a traditional tourist base to begin with.

Not sure how accurate the info is, but when Thaksin was PM, he already promised one of his crony the casino project will go through. May not be that easy as there will be resistence from the religious groups which is an irony given the fact that Bkk is no holy city.

Sri Lanka already has casinos but illegal ones. Same as Bkk.

 

[Ramseth]

Not sure how accurate the info is, but when Thaksin was PM, he already promised one of his crony the casino project will go through. May not be that easy as there will be resistence from the religious groups which is an irony given the fact that Bkk is no holy city.

Sri Lanka already has casinos but illegal ones. Same as Bkk.

The Thaksin plan was originally for four casinos in Thailand, to serve various regions of Thailand. It was of course derailed and shelved by the coup and subsequent yellow-red mini civil wars.

 

[GoFlyKiteNow]

OK here is article from Times of India.

In short China dumped close to $1B in arms, Pakistan another $100m. Read another article that there was lots of technical know how given too - intelligence info,

Basically China offered a way to end the conflict in exchange for access to Sri lanka's ports. After 20 years of war, Colombo said ok and in exchange got the weapons needed to clobber the Tamil Tigers.

Given that is is TOI article there is an Indian bias to it but it gives a clear picture of how Colombo completely crushed the Tigers.


NEW DELHI: China's declaration of support for the Sri Lankan government against the LTTE, apart from sticking out like a sore thumb in the eyes of the world, has further fuelled India's mortal distrust of its largest and most powerful neighbour. While India has a much more nuanced position over the issue owing to its domestic compulsions, an unfettered China is supporting Colombo and, in the process, authenticating India's fear about Beijing extending its influence in the Indian Ocean.

According to government sources, Beijing's support to Colombo cannot be viewed in isolation because it follows a series of initiatives aimed at influencing the Sri Lankan government. These include selling huge quantities of arms to Colombo last year and boosting aid almost five times to $1 billion. In fact, China is now the largest donor to Lanka. Its Jian-7 fighter jets, anti-aircraft guns and JY-11 3D air surveillance radars played a key role in the Sri Lankan military successes.

China came to rescue of Colombo after the US stopped direct aid to Sri Lanka because of its dismal human rights record. What's worse, said strategic affairs expert Brahma Chellaney, Beijing has also roped in its ally Pakistan for providing military assistance to Lanka. Pakistan's own economy is in tatters, but it has increased its annual military assistance to Sri Lanka to $100 million at Beijing's behest. It is also well known that its air force trained its Sri Lankan counterpart in precision-guided attacks.

"The Chinese are courting Sri Lanka because of its location in the Indian Ocean -- a crucial international passageway for trade and oil. Chinese engineers are currently building a billion-dollar port in the country's southeast, Hambantota, and this is the latest `pearl' in China's strategy to control vital sea-lanes of communication between the Indian and Pacific Oceans by assembling a `string of pearls' in the form of listening posts, special naval arrangements and access to ports,'' said Chellaney.

The present president Rajapakse has clearly stated that there will be no provision to allow China any access or bases in Sri Lanka. This is his solemn undertaking to New Delhi. The main preference of Sri Lanka will be New Delhi over Beijing. He has said this a dozen times this year alone.

Secondly, China has never managed to establish any influence in any country. Its track record from history shows that. Except maybe N Korea. Which in any case is a gonner.

You dont win a guerrilla warfare by proxy, by supplying arms. China gave a lot of help to the Vietnamese and they actually taught the Chinese a good lesson in military warfare and defeat, to the extent Mao called them ingrates.

It took Colombo 25 years to defeat the LTTE, and that too due to the fact that the people and the guerrilas were weary of a 25 year old war. That is the only reason why the Sri Lankan government finally managed to defeat the LTTE, after killing its ruthless leader.

As days go by, one will see the facts . The main foreign policy of Sri Lanka will be based on keeping China and Pakistan out of the equation in tue with New Delhi's concerns. No bases, no over staffing of their consulates etc with their nationals.

Finally, I quote from the same article which you posted.
"Unlike in our case, there is no moral dimension to the crisis for China. We have to think about the humanitarian situation and conditions after the offensive is over. There is no domestic compulsion for China but our involvement is much more intricate,'' said a source."

The above para states it all about China. It is more damaging to its image than all the GDP and economic figures of China. You do not get respect from flaunting GDP figures. Got it ?
.

 

[longbow]

My article was from Times of India - so please adjust for bias.

Without the weapons the tamil tigers will still be around. Never under estimate the firepower unleashed by $1B in arms.

My point is that Sri Lanka cannot get along with India given India's support of a civil war. The majority Sinhalese pop is very wary of the 10% Tamils. So I doubt if Colombo will ever be close.

China has pragmatic needs, they want use of Sri lankan ports. So it is using its financial firepwoer to achieve that purpose.

Sri lanka wanted to crush the tamils, they needed Chinese help, which they got. Pretty sure they want continued Chinese support given the India influence next door. After all India was ever ready to support the civil war. But it must not be seen as a lap dog to the Chinese.

In the end, just follow the money.

The present president Rajapakse has clearly stated that there will be no provision to allow China any access or bases in Sri Lanka. This is his solemn undertaking to New Delhi. The main preference of Sri Lanka will be New Delhi over Beijing. He has said this a dozen times this year alone.

Secondly, China has never managed to establish any influence in any country. Its track record from history shows that. Except maybe N Korea. Which in any case is a gonner.

You dont win a guerrilla warfare by proxy, by supplying arms. China gave a lot of help to the Vietnamese and they actually taught the Chinese a good lesson in military warfare and defeat, to the extent Mao called them ingrates.

It took Colombo 25 years to defeat the LTTE, and that too due to the fact that the people and the guerrilas were weary of a 25 year old war. That is the only reason why the Sri Lankan government finally managed to defeat the LTTE, after killing its ruthless leader.

As days go by, one will see the facts . The main foreign policy of Sri Lanka will be based on keeping China and Pakistan out of the equation in tue with New Delhi's concerns. No bases, no over staffing of their consulates etc with their nationals.

Finally, I quote from the same article which you posted.
"Unlike in our case, there is no moral dimension to the crisis for China. We have to think about the humanitarian situation and conditions after the offensive is over. There is no domestic compulsion for China but our involvement is much more intricate,'' said a source."

The above para states it all about China. It is more damaging to its image than all the GDP and economic figures of China. You do not get respect from flaunting GDP figures. Got it ?
.

 

[longbow]

Here is a recent article on close China Sri lankan ties. As I mentioned actions are louder than words.

If you use common sense the development makes full sense. Tiny Sri lanka is very wary of its giant neighbor, India. It is even more concerned given that this neighbored funded a civil war that destroyed the country.

To balance against india, they are bringing in the Chinese. For one, China helped them get rid of their tamil tiger problem quickly by giving them lots of weapons. China gave them 10 J7 fighter jets. No match againts modern airforces but more than enough firepower to pulverise Tamil Tigers. So China is an important counter weight against india.

China has invested $1.5B in Sri Lankan port. It is likley built to be able to accomodate Navy ships but why would the Sri lankan officials even say that. Why not get the port finished, get commerical shipping going then start having friendly ports visits.

China could even donate a few frigates to Sri lanka and start having reciprocal navy port visits.

BTW President Rajapakse's brother is the one in China agreeing to deepen military ties!!!

China, Sri Lanka agree to deepen military ties
PTI / Thursday, September 16, 2010 20:21 IST China and Sri Lanka today agreed to deepen their burgeoning defence ties as the powerful visiting Lankan defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa held a crucial meeting with a top Chinese military commander in Biejing.

The Chinese offer to enhance defence ties with Sri Lanka came during a key meeting between defence secretary Rajapaksa and Chen Bingde, the chief of the general staff of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

China was willing to work with Sri Lanka to further enhance friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two nations and armed forces, to promote their comprehensive and cooperative partnership, Chen said.

There has been continuous consolidation and development of China-Sri Lanka relations in recent years, state-run Chinese news agency Xinhua quoted Chen as saying today.

He said that Beijing appreciated Sri Lanka's firm support on the issues of Taiwan and Tibet, which were related to China's core interests.

Rajapaksa, the brother of President Mahenda Rajapaksa, said the government and armed forces of Sri Lanka appreciated China's support and would continue to advance friendly and cooperative relations between the two nations and two armed forces.Rajapaksa's visit, following last month’s tour of Sri Lankan foreign minister GL Peiris, is seen as significant.

China, which has emerged as Sri Lanka's biggest donor last year with a billion dollar aid replacing Japan, is also one of biggest supplier of weapons to its army, particularly during the height of its war against the LTTE.

Western donors have curbed aid to Sri Lanka over human rights issues and the government's handling of the final stages of the ethnic conflict with Tamil Tiger separatists, which ended last May.

China is funding large part of the $1.5 billion Southern Hambantota deep water port which is to commence operations in November.

The port is expected make Sri Lanka an important transhipment hub as it was close to major international shipping route.

These initiatives have been a matter of concern in India where it is looked upon as China's attempt to expand its sphere of regional influence into Lanka.

However, Sri Lanka has denied it would provide facilities for a military base for China, saying it is only a commercial port.

URL of the article: http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_china-sri-lanka-agree-to-deepen-military-ties_1438977-all