Chief Government Whip and Urban Development and Housing Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said that no decision has been taken by the Government to transfer the ‘aragalaya’ (the public movement seeking the resignation of the previous Government led by then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa) site in the Galle Face for foreign investors, as was alleged by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna led National People’s Power Opposition Parliamentarian Vijitha Herath.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday (22), Minister Ranatunga stated that a proposal had been received from Barl Investment Private Limited. for a mixed investment project in a land located in Baladaksha Mawatha, Colombo 03. He also stated that otherwise, no decision had been made regarding giving the ‘aragalaya’ site for a casino business.  He further said that several investors have already informed the Ministry regarding the much-debated building ‘Visumpaya' which was home to several statesmen, where the Government is intending to establish a boutique hotel.

Recently, MP Herath alleged in Parliament that the Government is going to turn the Galle Face ‘aragalaya’ site which was where the ‘GotaGoGama’ was, into a casino in an effort to erase the memory linked to it. He claimed that the Government was going to grant permission through the Urban Development Authority to a Chinese company to set up a casino centre on the particular site, with the backing of a businessman from Negombo.

In response to Herath, the State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya stated that no casino would target local customers. He added that opening a casino involves an initial outlay of Rs. 10 billion and emphasised methods to deter residents from visiting casinos.