CoPF approves bill to establish Gambling Regulatory Authority

The Bill to establish the Gambling Regulatory Authority has received the approval of the Committee on Public Finance (CoPF), marking a key legislative step toward regulating the gambling industry in Sri Lanka.

The approval was granted during the Committee’s meeting , under the acting chairmanship of Rauff Hakeem, Member of Parliament. MP Hakeem chaired the session in place of the Committee's Chairperson, Dr. Harsha de Silva, who is currently overseas.

The proposed legislation, which has been the subject of multiple discussions within the Committee, aims to establish the Gambling Regulatory Authority as an independent body tasked with overseeing and standardizing betting and gaming operations across the country. The Authority is expected to play a significant role in minimizing social harm, boosting tourism, and contributing to economic growth.

In addition to the Bill, the Committee also approved several key financial instruments, including:

* A Resolution under Section 10 of the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235) regarding import duties, as published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2434/02 dated April 28, 2025.

* An Order under Section 3 of the Excise (Special Provisions) Act, No. 13 of 1989, detailed in Gazette No. 2434/04.

* A Regulation concerning the luxury tax on motor vehicles under Section 19 read with Section 51 of the Finance Act, No. 35 of 2018, published in Gazette No. 2434/05.