The Congress of Religions summoned a news conference in Narahenpita on Thursday morning to denounce Government moves to expand the casino industry. Two gazette notifications will be submitted for Parliamentary approval next week. One of them seeks permission for a joint venture between an Australian casino mogul and a Sri Lankan businessman. The news conference, though [...]

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Religious leaders denounce moves to set up more casinos

Appeal to MPs to vote against gazettes coming up in House ; some leading monks go to restaurant of casino moghul’ s business partner after press conference
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The Congress of Religions summoned a news conference in Narahenpita on Thursday morning to denounce Government moves to expand the casino industry. Two gazette notifications will be submitted for Parliamentary approval next week. One of them seeks permission for a joint venture between an Australian casino mogul and a Sri Lankan businessman.

Some of the leading anti-casino monks went to a restaurant of a businessmen linked to the casino industry

The news conference, though poorly attended by the media, was dominated by saffron-robed Buddhist monks including some of the best known prelates in the country.  Among them were Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera, Ven. Kotugoda Dhammawansa Anunayake Thera, Ven. Dr. Ittapana Dhammalankara Anunayaka Thera, Ven. Muruththetuwe Ananda Thera and Ven. Dr. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thera.

The Catholic faith was represented by Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the Hindu faith by Brahmasri S. Kuhanantha Sarma and the Muslim faith by Javed Yusuf.

The religious leaders condemned initiatives to set up more casinos. They said all major faiths in the country prohibited gambling. Allowing it to grow into a bigger industry would erode the social, cultural, moral and religious fabric of society. They questioned the rationale of touting casinos as a means of development, saying that the disadvantages of the industry far outweighed the advantages.

They appealed to Members of Parliament to listen to their consciences and to vote against the gazettes when they came up for approval. They urged leaders to promote other sectors—such as tourism, agriculture and industry—as a means to develop the country. They pointed out the dangers of drugs, mafia and prostitution that are associated with casinos. 

Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera was among the most strident speakers. He said that the leaders of the Buddhist, Christian, Muslim and Hindu faiths are uniting to demand from Sri Lanka’s rulers that casinos be banished from the country. The Constitution ensures protection to Buddhism. Buddhism discourages gambling. To introduce casinos to the country is to violate Buddhism, and therefore, the Constitution, he said.

“What a national disaster this is!” he said. 
“The President is a good Buddhist,” he continued. “We are asking him kindly to get rid of gambling.”
He pointed out that Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, who is the relevant minister, is the secretary of the Dayaka Sabha of the Amarapura Sangha Sabha. It is he that is bringing casinos to Sri Lanka.

Ven. Bellanwila Wimalaratana Thera addressing the Congress of Religions news conference

“We are asking ministers and MPs of the Government and the Opposition, not to raise their hands and let gambling destroy this country,” he urged. “The casino building will be 45 stories high,” Ven. Sobitha Thera said.  “This is a different world. They will bring prostitutes from abroad. Today, Colombia is ruled by the underworld. If rulers oppose them, they kill them. That’s how powerful they are,” he said.

The monks also spoke out strongly against casinos, ably supported by representatives of other religions. The news conference lasted about 40 minutes. Afterwards, the Congress of Religions had organised refreshments for journalists. 

The religious representatives left before the journalists. Several of the leading Buddhist monks who attended the briefing got into their cars and went in the direction of No. 1A, Rajakeeya Mawatha, Colombo 7. This is the address of the Maharaja Palace, a fancy, recently-opened restaurant that offered Indian food.

They alighted from their vehicles to be greeted at the entrance by none other than the local partner of the Australian casino mogul who expects to set up business here. This Sri Lankan businessman washed the feet of the monks and ushered them into the restaurant. 

They emerged some time later, escorted by the businessman whose helpers carried gifts for the prelates. They helped load the gifts into the waiting vehicles before the respected monks – some of whom had just moments before denounced the project that this businessman was bringing to Sri Lanka – sped off.

The Sunday Times contacted Ven. Muruththetuwe Ananda Thera, who was among those present at the lunch. This is the conversation that ensued: 

Q: Swaminwahansa, did you attend a special lunch after the news conference on Thursday?
A: It was an almsgiving.
Q: Who was giving this almsgiving?
A: I don’t know.
Q: Who invited you?
A: It was Ven. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thera.
Q: Was anything discussed there about casinos?
A: Not a word.
Q: What was this lunch in aid of?
A: It was a sangha danayak.
Q: Was everyone who attended the news conference present at the lunch?
A: There were a few of them.
Q: Do you know (the businessman)?
A: I have no connection with him.
Q: You don’t know him?
A: I have no recollection of him.
The Sunday Times contacted Ven. Dr. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thera to verify that he had, indeed, extended the invitation to Ven. Muruththetuwe Ananda Thera.
Q: Swaminwahansa, did you go to a restaurant for lunch on the invitation of (businessman) after the news conference on Thursday?
A: I was invited to an almsgiving at the restaurant. I didn’t know anything about a casino connection. We went to the almsgiving and came away.
Q: Did (businessman) invite you?
A: The invitation came from (associate of businessman).
Q: Do you know the (businessman)?
A: We didn’t know him. We went into the restaurant, we had our offerings and left.
Q: Ven. Muruththetuwe Ananda swaminwahansa said you had invited him to the almsgiving. Is this true?
A: I didn’t invite him. He was also invited by (associate of businessman).
Q: When was the invitation extended?
A: About two weeks ago.
Q: Did you discuss anything about casinos at this restaurant?
A: Nothing. We did not think so much… that he’s connected to casinos.
Q: When you were invited to an almsgiving, you did not ask who the person is?
A: When we are invited, we don’t try to find the origins (agak mulak) of the person who is inviting us. We go and consume the offerings and come back. Some websites are trying to sling mud at us.

Representatives of other religions in the Congress did not attend the almsgiving.

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