An illegal gambling racket called "Kotu Kapeema" based on national lottery winning numbers

The National Lotteries Board has lodged an official complaint with the Central Criminal Investigation Bureau (CCIB) to suppress the illegal gambling racket known as "Kotu Kæpīma" (cutting squares), which is spread across the island based on lottery winning numbers. The Board has also launched a special awareness program with the aim of preventing the public from being enticed into this illegal activity.

With the revelation that there are no provisions under the current National Lotteries Board Act to take legal action against racketeers, the National Lotteries Board has sought the assistance of the Ministry of Finance to prepare amendments to the Act or new regulations to secure the necessary legal powers.

Commenting on this matter, Mr. Cyril Anthony Perera, Chairman of the National Lotteries Board, stated that under the existing Act, their institution can only take action for incidents directly related to it. He explained that since the previously existing Gambling Ordinance is no longer in effect, they have requested the Ministry to make the necessary amendments under the current Gambling Regulatory Authority Act to provide a legal solution to this problem.

This gambling operation is not conducted as an organized operation from a single center, but rather by small groups dispersed across the island. Police officers have been deployed to raid the relevant locations and enforce the law, and concurrently, public awareness activities are also underway.

The National Lotteries Board had previously drawn attention to this matter by presenting facts before a Parliamentary Committee. It was further revealed that this illegal "Kotu Kæpīma" gambling, which started with small amounts of money at the village level, has now spread to the extent of large bets up to Rs. 100,000 in some areas.