Sri Lanka's opposition will stage a protest outside the proposed building site for three proposed casinos valued at 1.3 billion U.S. dollars including one from gaming mogul James Packer, an official said Wednesday, as parliament prepares to push through legislation delayed since last year.

The three projects are a 350 million U.S. dollar casino project by Australian casino mogul James Packer, a 300 million U.S. dollar gaming facility by local tycoon Dhammika Perera called Queensbury and the largest venture of 650 million U.S. dollars by local conglomerate John Keells Holdings (JKH) that will also have a casino.

The government has already twice rolled back attempts to push through legislation in parliament that will make casinos legal. However, strong protests from the Opposition United National Party (UNP) and Buddhist hardline group Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), which is part of the ruling coalition, have stalled the attempts.

The government led by President Mahinda Rajapksa holds two thirds majority in parliament and the latest presentation of the projects on Thursday is expected to have a high chance of success.

Last year following protests, the government removed the word "casino" from the draft bill and inserted the phrase "mixed development projects," which the UNP claims is just a euphemism for casinos.

The government had previously stated existing casino licenses could be transferred to the three projects and opposition politicians have charged that loopholes exist in the regulations to establish casinos at a later date.

Packer's casino in particular has been severely censured by the UNP for being given sweeping tax concessions for 12 years. The Australian Financial Review has estimated that the tax holiday will add up to as much as 1 billion U.S. dollars.

The UNP has also slammed the government for not establishing a competent monitoring system for casinos and alleged that public concerns were being ignored. "UNP Members of Parliament (MPs) will be present at James Packer's casino site before parliament begins to protest (the bill) and we will not be scared away by gun toting local politicians nor by the police or the military. They can try what they wish, what they like but we shall certainly be there,"UNP MP and well-known economist Dr. Harsha De Silva told reporters.

He was referring to an attack led by ruling party politicians on a group of UNP MPs this week when they were engaged in an inspection tour of a controversial 360 million U.S. dollar harbor and 290 million U.S. dollar international airport built in the southern part of the country.

The UNP has also proposed three amendments to the bills that are to be taken up in Parliament on Wednesday banning casinos or prostitution from ever being carried out at these three projects. Endi

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