An Australian gambling tycoon’s plans to build a $400 million resort in Sri Lanka have been delayed after protests by Buddhist leaders and some political parties, reports Reuters.
The Sri Lankan government announced on Tuesday that it will be altering the tax concessions initially granted to James Packer’s Crown Ltd both because politicians opposed special tax concessions, which local entrepreneurs did not receive, and also because Buddhist leaders complained that the inclusion of a casino in the plans would be detrimental to Sri Lankan culture.
Speaking on behalf of Tamil Refugee Council, former chief cricket writer at The Age, Trevor Grant criticised Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke’s deal to front the campaign for the planned hotel resort.
Speaking on NewsRadio, Grant said:
"We just have to look what [Clarke’s] aligning himself to, and that is really a brutal and oppressive dictatorship that is accused by the UN of murdering at least 40,000 innocent civilians."
"We would say very strongly that all Michael Clarke is doing is laundering the image and it's a blood-stained image, believe me."
"To us it's quite shocking to see the biggest name in Australian sport linking himself with a corrupt, brutal dictator."