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Lotteries Board records highest-ever profit in 2023

29 Mar 2024 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}      

A woman selling lottery tickets in a roadside kiosk - Pic by Kushan Pathirajah

The Development Lotteries Board (DLB) reached its highest-ever profit in its four-decade history as the margin soared to 32 percent for the fiscal year 2022-2023, doubling the figure from the previous year.


According to a statement by President Media Division (PMD), contributions to both the President’s Fund and the government saw notable increases, with a 13 percent rise for the former, surpassing the target, and a 6 percent increase for the latter. 


DLB Chairman and CEO Ajith Gunaratne Narangala, attributed this success to strategic measures aimed at mitigating the country’s economic challenges.


The chairman mentioned that measures have been implemented to boost the prize money for both regular and newly introduced special lottery tickets of the Development Lotteries Board. 


Meanwhile, the board has initiated the introduction of lottery tickets via digital technology. Notably, a percentage of the proceeds are earmarked for education and healthcare initiatives within the country.