The Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe spoke at the Global Game Connect 2026 summit in Colombo about the government being dedicated to making a great environment for local and international stakeholders. He addressed participants at Cinnamon Life in the City of Dreams Sri Lanka Complex and stated authorities would assist in supporting the growth of the sector.
Abeysinghe emphasized how important it is to innovate because of the potential for gaming to contribute to economic development beyond entertainment. He stated that combining technology with local businesses could help improve their products and services and, in turn, make them competitive worldwide.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Chathuranga Abeysinghe, said:
Sri Lanka is playing a very strong politically neutral space where all businesses, especially digital businesses, can have their presence. We will give our fullest support to drive this industry both here and in the region.
The gaming industry in Sri Lanka has undergone rapid growth over the past several years, with many companies transitioning from operating independently to being part of larger, integrated resort strategies. The most significant achievement within the last few years was the introduction of City of Dreams Sri Lanka, a $1.2 billion investment that opened in 2025 and has transformed Sri Lanka into a major gaming destination within South Asia.
The Government expects to utilize this industry as part of their overall goal of becoming a globally recognized tourism destination by attracting three million foreign visitors by the year 2026. Analyst reports indicate that gaming will generate approximately $250 million per year for the country, therefore increasing tax revenues.
New polices have shown a greater level of governance regarding the gaming sector. As a means to increase government revenue, the Government of Sri Lanka has increased the gaming tax from 15% to 18% and has significantly increased the casino entry fees.
