Sri Lanka delays casino project bill for at least another month

Sri Lanka has suspended final approval of two casino projects for at least another month after opposition from within the ruling coalition, local media reported, citing Investment Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena. A bill giving the two separate casino hotels the go-ahead and granting them a 10-year tax holiday was due to be presented to parliament on Thursday.The minister said he expects the bill to be introduced in about a month, with the government hoping to take five percent of all casino revenue irrespective of the profits. "The tax concessions will be there, but there will be more clarity on what is taxed and what is not. We will also remove any ambiguities in the bill," media cited the minister as saying.