President Maithripala Sirisena swept to power this month backed by the country's influential main party of Buddhist monks, who strongly opposed plans to lure gaming companies to the Sri Lankan capital. we don't want an economy relying on casinos,' he said according to a transcript of a speech released on Sunday, a day after it was delivered. Who asked you to come? Please don't come - not in this lifetime,' prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in a statement released by his office. Packer's Crown Group on Friday abandoned plans for the $350 million development, which would have included a casino, after the government also withdrew generous tax concessions granted under the previous regime in efforts to turn Colombo into a regional gaming hub. Sri Lanka's new government has declared Australian billionaire James Packer unwelcome in the country after the gaming mogul pulled out of building a luxury resort following a ban on new casinos.
