By Frederica Jansz In the backdrop of an election this country can ill afford, a Lankan expatriate and operator of internet casinos has been lobbying for political and diplomatic positions, enticing both the new United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and the United National Front (UNF) with multi million rupee donations towards political campaigns. In exchange for either a place on the national list of the UPFA or a confirmed appointment as roving ambassador for Sri Lanka, Sabir Hussein is willing to finance the political campaigns of prominent figures in the UPFA.

Hussein maintains his donations are made in goodwill only and he expects no payback.But The Sunday Leader has found otherwise. Having played his cards with the UNF and failed to score, Hussein is now placing his bets on the new United People's Freedom Alliance and President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

And despite UPFA rhetoric, The Sunday Leader has found the alliance is not averse to running its election campaign on the finances of a casino king.

It is alleged that Sabir Hussein, operating internet casinos called amongst others, "1luckygambler. com" and "casinoontop.com" has already donated a sum of US $ 250,000 (approx. Rs. 25 million) to members of the People's Alliance towards their election campaign.

Hussein when quizzed denied having done so, but admitted that he is seriously considering making a significant donation to the UPFA. He voiced deep admiration for President Chandrika Kumaratunga maintaining the President's "vision in accomplishing an agreement with the JVP is historical and an event which will no doubt change the course of Sri Lanka's political destiny for the better."

Hussein said he has never met with the President but nevertheless reiterated that he believes "she is a very sweet, honourable and kind-hearted person."

Hussein told The Sunday Leader that he too wishes to play a part in establishing a vision and a plan for Sri Lanka. 

Sabir Hussein is president of 'Amazon Entertainment,' a company engaged in the internet gaming industry. Amazon entertainment sites have been featured on MSN, AltaVista, Excite and CBS Sportsline amongst many others.

It is considered to be in the forefront of the internet gaming industry and boasts of a yearly betting revenue of approximately US $ 500 million.

Broadcast licence

In documents, Hussein had previously handed over to former Mass Communication Minister, Imtiaz Bakeer Markar asking for the rights to broadcast the SLBC/Rupavahini library of films and programming to a worldwide audience by satellite, Hussein claims a turnover of US $ 1.9 billion.

Hussein's request is yet to be granted in this respect.Hussein however maintains contradictory positions. He stated, despite the documents available, that he never made any request to either Bakeer Markar or the President for broadcast rights but said, "I only gave him (Bakeer Markar) an idea to turn around Rupavahini into a profitable institution."

Educated at S. Thomas College Mount Lavinia, Hussein is the son of the prominent race horse trainer, Sheriff Mehdi Hussein.Excerpts from Hussein's Curriculum Vitae state that as president of the Amazon Group of Companies, Hussein is the largest advertiser on MSN.com with advertising running into millions of dollars per annum.

Hussein personally confirmed this aspect to The Sunday Leader - boasting he is indeed one of the largest advertiser's on MSN.com, adding further that his business repute worldwide he believes fully qualifies him to be nominated to the post of ambassador plenipotentiary.

Hussein denied having made any requests from President Kumaratunga to be nominated as roving ambassador for Sri Lanka. He also denied requesting from the President that he be placed in the PA national list in exchange for funding its present election campaign.

It is reliably learnt that Hussein has met with heavyweights in the PA in his bid to ensure his requests are granted in the event the UPFA wins the April 2 election.

Hussein in fact told The Sunday Leader that he is more than convinced the UPFA is set to take over the reigns of power, and admitted he would like to financially back the UPFA.

Denying having met with the President, Hussein also refuted claims that he met PA strongmen, Mangala Samaraweera, Anuruddha Ratwatte and Anura Bandaranaike.

Sources however confirmed that Hussein has indeed met with PA heavyweights at the Trans Asia Hotel where he stays when visiting Sri Lanka. Hussein is domiciled in Sweden and married to a Swedish national.

Having left Sri Lanka at the age of 19, it is alleged that Hussein before his departure was arrested by Sri Lanka Customs at the Bandaranaike International Airport for attempting to smuggle a large amount of foreign exchange out of the country.Hussein strongly denied this allegation maintaining it is an attempt by his foes to character assassinate him.

Hussein left Sri Lanka initially bound for the UK after which he moved to Sweden where he married and entered the gaming industry. He operates some of the most popular and biggest internet casinos featuring favourite casino games like casino blackjack, casino roulette and casino slots.

One of the gaming sites he runs "1lucky gambler" is a one-stop gaming site where visitors can access 30 casino games, free Java-based games and an extensive sportsbook. The gaming is made available via Starnet software.

Hussein boasts that 1lucky gambler and Sportsbook were the first casinos to advertise on MSN.com.

The web page on 1lucky gambler states that for "additional information and other offerings" to contact: Sabir Hussein, CEO of Amazon Entertainment Ltd.

In the run up to the 2001 general election Hussein met with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.He was introduced to the Premier by Tertiary Education Minister Kabir Hashim and soon made a donation of an estimated Rs. 5 million towards the UNP's election campaign.

Hussein confirmed he had indeed donated monies towards the UNP's election campaign in 2001 but refused to say how much, only stating, "it was in excess of Rs. 10 million." Hussein maintains that he never sought any pay back from the UNP.

A government source denied Hussein had donated monies in excess of Rs. 10 million towards the UNP's election campaign in 2001.

However, sources in government confirmed that Hussein did indeed make a request from Ranil Wickremesinghe to be granted a casino licence that would allow him exclusivity in the casino industry in Colombo.

This, Wickremesinghe had maintained he could not do - given the many other operators already in existence. Instead, Hussein was told he could be given such exclusivity in Bentota and that the Premier would grant just the one casino licence to him.But Hussein was not interested.

He later changed his request. He told the Premier he wished to be appointed as a roving ambassador for Sri Lanka. The Premier would have none of it.

According to Hussein, he claims that the post of roving ambassador was "offered" to him by the UNF. Asked what qualifications he possess to hold such a post he replied, "I have only to pick up the telephone and I can speak with any top business magnate in the world. Isn't that a worthwhile qualification for the government?"

Many requests

After the UNP's election to office in December 2001, Hussein met again with Wickremesinghe and on several occasions in the presence also of UNP Chairman Malik Samarawickrema.His request at each meeting apparently remained the same - to be named as a roving ambassador.

As senior spokesman for the UNF confirmed that Hussein repeatedly requested the government to appoint him as a roving ambassador for Sri Lanka. He said this was one among many requests Hussein made from Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. "But we cannot just nominate people like that - all because they have made a donation towards a campaign fund," he said requesting anonymity.

On January 23, 2002, Hussein wrote to Wickremesinghe referring to a "last meeting" and requesting the Prime Minister to grant an audience with owners of a leading Saudi Arabian company who were interested in making inward investments in Sri Lanka.

Hussein when asked by The Sunday Leader denied he ever wrote to Wickremesinghe. He claimed the letter is a forgery. It is however on an "Amazon Entertainment Ltd," letterhead, stating in print that it is from the office of the chairman, Amazon Lanka Limited and an email address given as: "sabir@telia.com"

Hussein told The Sunday Leader that among 10 email addresses he uses we could contact him on "casino@telia.com"

Hussein meanwhile at one stage had apparently been told by the UNF that the government had put his name up for approval from the President but that Kumaratunga had refused to sanction his appointment as roving ambassador.

The truth is the UNF never put up his name - more than convinced Hussein did not qualify.

The uncomfortable saga with the UNF ended when "Faris Uvais," a close associate of M. L. M. Athaullah of the rebel faction within the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, together with Azmin Marikkar, a former loyalist of Rauf Hakeem introduced Sabir Hussein to the PA.

"Disillusioned"

Hussein admitted to The Sunday Leader that he is "very disillusioned" with the UNF. Asked why, he would only say, they reneged on promises they made to him.

Interestingly, Hussein's request, in exchange for the monies he has donated, be it to the UNF or the PA - has remained the same.To be appointed as ambassador plenipotentiary or roving ambassador for Sri Lanka.

Sabir Hussein, for the moment is a man in waiting - more than convinced that this time around he is backing the right horse. He in fact told The Sunday Leader, "I have never yet backed the wrong horse."

Until then, it is party time at the Trans Asia Hotel. Hosted by Hussein, alliance big wigs are feasting on the spoils of Hussein's pickings from the gambling industry and have been seen on more than one occasion partying with the casino king.

Sabir Hussein professes deep respect for PA strongmen

Speaking with candour to The Sunday Leader, Sabir Hussein confessed he "has a lot of regard and respect for Mangala Samaraweera and Anura Bandaranaike."

Asked if such respect extends to Anuruddha Ratwatte as well, he replied "I have no comment." Commenting on the recent alliance between the SLFP and the JVP he said, "I think the JVP is very sincere this time."

With regard to his support for the UPFA he said, "I am considering supporting the PA in a very big way because I feel personally that the President will do a better job."

Asked about the possibility of him helping finance the election campaign of the UPFA he responded saying, "Yes of course I am seriously considering making a donation because I think the President will do a better job in the peace process.Yes, the possibilities are that I will indeed help finance their campaign."

He refused to say how much he intends donating to the UPFA.

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