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Sri Lanka just took a big step forward on how it handles gambling after the Committee on Public Finance decided to support a new bill that would set up the Gambling Regulatory Authority. This is the first time the country will have a proper centralized body dedicated to keeping tabs on the gaming industry.
The entire session took place on August 12, 2025. Member of Parliament Rauff Hakeem took over the chair for the meeting because the usual chair of the committee, Dr Harsha de Silva, was abroad on an international tour. But that did not hinder the meeting at all. The committee had already discussed this bill several times before, so when it was time to vote, they were prepared to go through with it.
What This New Authority Will Actually Do
So what exactly is this Gambling Regulatory Authority supposed to accomplish? It’s not just about telling gambling places what they can and can’t do. The lawmakers who pushed this through are making it clear that they want this new body to help Sri Lanka’s tourism sector and boost the overall economy, too.
The authority is going to be the main regulator for betting and gaming establishments all across the country. However, they are not just trying to control everything and shut things down. Instead, they are actually looking to harness the greatest possible benefits that the gaming industry can offer Sri Lanka’s economy, particularly the ability to draw in tourists.
The authorities will also have a broad mandate. They will be working to regulate the way gambling operations are conducted, reduce any social harm caused by gambling, promote tourism, and support overall economic growth. This simply shows how serious Sri Lanka is about getting this right.
Other Financial Moves During the Same Meeting
The committee didn’t just focus on the topic of gambling that day. They also approved several other financial measures that had been sitting around waiting for approval. There was a resolution under the Customs Ordinance dealing with import duties, an order under the Excise Special Provisions Act about excise duties, and a regulation under the Finance Act concerning luxury tax on motor vehicles. All three of these measures had been published back on April 28, 2025, in some official publications called Extraordinary Gazettes.
Who Was There and Why It Matters
Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe was present at the meeting, along with certain Members of Parliament like Ravi Karunanayake, Dr Kaushalya Ariyaratne, Attorney-at-Law Lakmali Hemachandra, and Nishantha Jayaweera.
This move represents a significant policy step for Sri Lanka. Up until now, the country has not had one single organization dedicated to managing the gaming industry with both regulatory responsibilities and developmental goals in mind.
While some places are cracking down harder on gambling, Sri Lanka seems to be taking a more balanced approach; they want oversight and control, but they also recognize that there’s money to be made and tourists to attract if they do this right. Whether this new authority will be able to balance all these different objectives remains to be seen, but at least now they have the official backing to try.
Source: Gambling Insider
