Gambling Industry In Sri Lanka

Published in: Latest Intelligence Sri Lankan's fledging casino industry is in the balance after opposisition challenger Maithripala Sirisena beat incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the isla. Sri Lanka’s casino industry is an extremely lucrative market. A number of major gaming companies including Crown Resorts (based out of Australia) and Las Vegas Sands have expressed interest in entering this country. With higher taxes and fees for players, that could change. The casino entry fees for gamblers in Sri Lanka may be the biggest.

Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka - Industry: Sri Lanka’s mineral-extraction industries include mining of gemstones and graphite; excavation of beach sands containing ilmenite and monazite; and quarrying kaolin, apatite, quartz sand, clay, and salt. Among them, gem mining is the most important, producing high-value gemstones such as sapphire, ruby, and topaz, in addition to a variety of semiprecious. However, the opposition party is a strong adversary of the gambling industry in Sri Lanka as the island is a Buddhist country. But in every country one can find adversaries of the gambling sector. Here in Sri Lanka however, e-commerce remains a nascent sector and a largely urban phenomenon. Fuelled by factors such as the lack of a widespread online presence as well as limited access to personal computers and the high cost of data, consumers prefer traditional bricks-and-mortar stores that offer the reassurance of ‘what you see is what.

• Land
• People
• Economy
• Government and society
• Cultural life
• History
  • Early settlement and the spread of Buddhism
  • Early growth and political centralization, c. 200 bce–1255 ce
  • Drift to the southwest (1255–1505)
    • Social and economic changes
  • The Portuguese in Sri Lanka (1505–1658)
  • Dutch rule in Sri Lanka (1658–1796)
  • British Ceylon (1796–1900)
  • Constitutionalism and nationalism (c. 1900–48)
  • The Republic of Sri Lanka
    • Civil war
    • Aftermath and recovery

At independence Sri Lanka had a population of about 6.5 million, which by the early 1990s had increased to more than 17 million. The rate of population growth averaged about 2.6 percent annually up to the early 1970s and declined steadily to below 1 percent at the turn of the 21st century. By the end of the civil war, the population had reached more than 21 million, but its growth rate remained below 1 percent well after the war.

The population is young. About one-fourth of the population is under the age of 15, and nearly half of the population is under the age of 30. Life expectancy is 81 years for women and 74 years for men.

Economy

The economy that evolved in Sri Lanka under British rule consisted of a modern sector, whose main component was plantation agriculture, and a traditional sector comprising subsistence agriculture. Manufacturing was an insignificant segment of the economy. Banking and commerce were, for the most part, ancillary to plantation agriculture. Nearly all foreign earnings were derived from the three staple plantation crops—tea, rubber, and coconut. The country depended on imports for nearly three-fourths of its food requirements and almost all of its manufactured goods.

During the first three decades after independence, development policy focused on two themes, equity through social welfare and substitution of imports with local products. Government price subsidies on food, statutory price controls on consumer goods, and the provision of free education and health services by the government were the principal measures guided by equity considerations. Stimulating local production to cater to an increasing share of domestic consumption and imposing diverse restrictions on imports were the main elements of the import substitution policy. The pursuance of these policies required increased government intervention in the economy.

The social welfare policies achieved a measure of success in lowering mortality rates and in increasing life expectancy and literacy rates to levels seldom matched by other developing countries. However, the restrictive impact that the policies had on domestic capital accumulation and investment retarded economic growth, leading not only to soaring unemployment but also to the persistence of low incomes. The achievements of the import substitution policies were even less tangible, except perhaps in the production of rice and subsidiary food crops. Industry, starved of imported inputs and domestic investment and often mismanaged under state control, failed either to grow or to achieve acceptable standards of product quality or to remain commercially viable. The policy focus on import substitution also meant the relative neglect of plantation agriculture, which, nevertheless, had to carry a heavy burden of taxation.

After the late 1970s there was a shift away from the earlier policies toward ones aimed at liberalizing the economy from excessive government controls. The new policies were designed to accelerate economic growth by stimulating private investment and to increase the country’s foreign earnings by promoting export-oriented economic activities.

Sri Lanka Open For Tourism

The liberalization policies succeeded initially. Stimulated by a substantially enhanced level of foreign aid and investment, the economy became buoyant, recording, up to about 1984, real growth rates of about 6 percent per annum. Thereafter, however, there was a marked deceleration of growth, caused mainly by the disruptive effects of the ethnic conflict on economic activity.

Resources

In Sri Lanka the resource potential in minerals such as gemstones, graphite, ilmenite, iron ore, limestone, quartz, mica, industrial clays, and salt is large. Small but commercially extractable amounts of nonferrous metals and minerals like titanium, monazite, and zircon are contained in the beach sands of a few localities. Of fossil fuels, the only known resource is the low-grade peat found in a swampy stretch along the west coast.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing

Rice production is the most important economic activity of Sri Lanka’s peasantry. Since independence there has been an impressive increase of paddy production. The factors that contributed to this were, first, the opening of 248,000 acres for paddy in the colonization schemes of the Dry Zone (including those of the Mahaweli Development Program launched in the early 1970s) and, second, the adoption of yield-increasing technology. Other important changes in peasant agriculture during postindependence times included diversification of production as well as increased commercialization of production transactions.

In terms of product value, contribution to export earnings, and the size of the work force, plantation agriculture has continued to figure prominently in the economy of Sri Lanka; however, its long-term trend has been one of relative decline.

Tea, the preeminent crop of the plantation sector, grows in many parts of the Wet Zone. Crops that are concentrated at higher altitudes supply some of the best-quality black teas to the world market. The main rubber-growing area is the ridge-and-valley country of the Wet Zone interior. Coconut is grown mainly in the hinterland of the western seaboard.

Plantations represent a segment of the economy that has failed to make significant advances since the time of independence. This is largely attributable to the persistently low rates of investment in this sector. Sri Lanka’s land reforms of 1972–75, through which the government acquired the ownership of about 60 percent of the total tea acreage and 30 percent of the rubber acreage, also contributed to the decline in productivity and commercial viability of the plantation sector.

Forestry and fishing are relatively insignificant components of the economy. Forests had been cleared for settlement and agriculture at an estimated rate of 104,000 acres annually between 1956 and 1981. Extraction of timber and fuelwood from forests is constrained by environmental conservation. In fisheries, the resource potential is abundant, particularly on the north and northwest coasts. Constraints on development are largely technological. Fishing, however, is an important occupation for the people living along the coastal fringe.

Source: Daily Mirror

The demand for sex workers is overlooked; laws would protect sex workers from violence and harassment

Despite the reluctance to openly discuss this subject, is evident that sex workers are abundant in contemporary Sri Lanka. Although they are condemned in terms of cultural and religious aspects, their existence cannot be denied. No rational person would take up sex work over the choice of other work. No girl’s ambition is to become a prostitute as she grows. No parent or teacher dreams of a child to sell their bodies. Even in countries where prostitution is legal, there are no institutes to specialise in sex work. Then why is this popular? How come it is trending? It was recently revealed that there are about 50 000 Lankan women engaged in prostitution. Sex workers have become a part of the community and should be given correct attention.

This is quite a sensitive topic and is hard to approach, as the widespread notion is that prostitutes corrupt society and bring negative values to the social structure. While poverty tops the list, coercion and desperation may be other reasons for women to be inclined towards sex work. In many instances the need to provide for children would drive divorced or widowed women opting for sex work. That reasoning goes to the thousands of child-burdened war-widows especially in the North and North-East, who have suddenly become bread winners without education or employable skills. Drugs, human trafficking and failed adolescent experimentation could be other possible rationales. Sex work/ Prostitution is not legalised in Sri Lanka. We are often filled with news about brothels being raided and prostitutes being arrested. Organisations such as Centre for Sex Worker’s Rights (CSWR) and women’s rights activists have been demanding legal rights in order to create a recognised position for them in society.

Should sex workers be given legal recognition or should they continue to be as they are? What are the real reasons behind the demanding of legal rights for sex work? Are there other ways to deal with the destitute situation of women in Sri Lanka? The co-president of the Centre for Sex Worker’s Rights (CSWR) expressed her views on this as follows. “We are labelled as bad women in society. When we are destitute we cannot kill or steal for money like men do. What we can do is sell our bodies. We do it for our children, we do it for ourselves.” “There are many reasons why girls/women have taken up sex work. I have taken this as an occupation because of my husband. My husband passed away many years ago, and I was helpless. I have two sons to nurture and I have to do something to ensure their well being. Their education, health and comfort are the priorities in my mind. I did not know anything about being a prostitute when I started, I was scared, but now I am very happy. There are many families along the coastal belt, across Wellawatta and Dehiwala of which parents cannot afford proper education for their children. Their pretty daughters always tend to resolve to sex work. That is one of the main methods of income for such families”.

When the Daily Mirror inquired whether every female engaged in the sex trade was contet, she assured that they were.

“People have their interests. The availability of a prostitute is a way of satisfying a human desire. If my son wants to have sex, he cannot go to the girl next door. However, he can go to a prostitute to fulfill what he wants easily, where both parties are happy to be with each other. Many little children are raped and abused because men have desires. Establishing prostitution will help reduce social crimes and will create a safe environment for our daughters to go in public.”

Asked about why they demand that sex work should be legalised, she said, “We are labelled as ‘bad women’ in society. No one really understands the situation we have been compelled to be in. When we are destitute we cannot kill or steal for money like men do. What we can do is sell our bodies. We do it for our children, we do it for ourselves. Policemen always look down upon us, arrest us and disgrace us. I have gone to countries like Singapore and Thailand where sex workers are licensed. They treat us with much respect and consider us as ordinary humans. What we asked for was social respect, proper recognition and the right to do our job as we like. We are always cornered, condemned and humiliated in social networks and the media. The demanding of legal rights was the last option we have, then we will not be tainted and regarded as inhuman.”

Political activist Wickramabahu Karunaratne emphasised that justice be given to the existing sex workers in Sri Lanka. “What is poignant about this is the exploitation of these poor women by arresting them when men are left alone although they clearly violate the vagrancy ordinance in other ways. This is what I speak against” – Wickramabahu Karunaratne

“There is no proper law prohibiting sex work in Sri Lanka. What exists is the Brothel Law and the Vagrancy Ordinance (Punishment of persons behaving riotously or disorderly in public streets). The brothel law was formed long time back and does not actively function. It is the Vagrancy Law that is used by law-executing bodies to apprehend sex workers. A majority of women in our country have chosen sex work because of their children. They have no way of leaving their children at home and devote themselves to work 8 hours a day. So they take 2 or 3 hours a day to work as prostitutes. The mode of operation is to loiter in public places. These are the instances where they are subjected to harassment by the police, suppressed and considered as slaves. What is poignant about this is the exploitation of these poor women by arresting them while men are left alone although they clearly violate the Vagrancy Ordinance in other ways. This is what I speak against. I do not specifically request legalisation of prostitution and do not promote it as a profession. However, a set of conditions should be brought in, which has a legal structure to protect their being, paying attention to the miserable, insecure circumstances these women face”.

Mrs. Kumudini Samuel, Coordinator of the Women and Media Collective (WMC) and editor of Women’s Rights Watch about this issue expressed similar views to Wickramabahu Karunaratne, while suggesting how society should change its perspectives.
“Whatever affect sex work has on society has happened by now, as it already exists. Us pretending that it doesn’t is what brings harm to society” – Mrs. Kumudini Samuel

What we need to realise and accept for a fact is that prostitution happens abundantly in Sri Lanka. If it is going to be criminalised, it is definitely going to happen underground. The factor that we overlook is the demand for sex workers. Although society is ready to blame it on the woman, people fail to see their impoverishment. So I believe laws should be brought in to safeguard the woman and ensure their protection in this already existing business. Therefore legal intervention should focus on protecting women from sexual violence and harassment.
When Mrs. Samuel was questioned about what effect lawfully permitting sex work would have on society, she said that it wouldn’t have a strong influence.
“Whatever effect sex work has on society has happened by now, as it already exists. Pretending that it doesn’t is what brings harm to society. We have internalised Victorian mindsets since the time of the English rule although other countries have overcome them. We need to question ourselves and stop acting as if people are not sexually active.

The way to deal with sexual crime is to openly discuss about it and probably include sex education in school curricula. We need to change the attitude of people and their perception about sexuality, by taking a frank approach and not by resorting to a moralistic outlook.

Speaking of legal implications, Mrs. Samuel firmly stated that the Vagrancy Ordinance should be done away with, as it is often misused. She also said that the Brothel Law should be regulated in a way that both men and women will be protected. Dr. Prathibha Mahanamahewa (attorney at law) and human rights activist spoke of the problems ‘entertainment workers’ come across, sympathising with the circumstances they are confronted with.

Gambling Industry In Sri Lanka Sri Lanka

“Five star hotels are never examined in search of sex workers, however, the woman who helplessly stands on the street is taken into custody” – Dr. Prathibha Mahanamahewa

Gambling Industry In Sri Lankan

“First I would like to revise the term used to define these particular people. I would call them entertainment workers instead of sex workers. Earlier they were referred to as prostitutes, then sex slaves or sex workers, however, in a modern context; the terminology that I prefer to use with respect to their occupation is entertainment workers. I believe they should be given rights as any other worker, as there is no law that exists in Sri Lanka which criminalizes this. However, police arrest women and subject them to humiliation at their own will, which I think should necessarily be spoken against. Five star hotels are never examined in search of sex workers, however, the woman who helplessly stands on the street is taken into custody. I have surveyed the causes for entertainment workers to emerge in our country and as it is obvious, most of them step into the business due to poverty. Most street entertainers have no birth certificate or ID and there are also women who have returned from serving in Middle-East countries who are not issued Grama Niladhari certificates. The government has to take responsibility of these women and give them their rights by recognising their predicament.”

Sri Lanka News

“Sri Lankan society is very conservative, specially the older generations. Although sex-related activities are happening often, we do not openly discuss them. I think social awareness and campaigning must be conducted alongside legalising and ensuring the rights of sex workers.” The taboo subject of sex workers is without doubt a social issue in Sri Lanka. This decade-old reality has now begun to rear up. Do they actually corrupt society? Or is it because society is corrupt that they exist?