SRI LANKA has denied permission for the opening of casinos at three planned luxury resorts in Colombo, including one by Australian casino baron James Packer, following widespread objection.
The ban was announced on April 24.
Opponents say the casinos are not in line with the country’s conservative Buddhist culture and could promote prostitution. Although Sri Lanka has a number of operational casinos, opponents claim the upcoming casinos are Las Vegas-type projects aimed at attracting high-rollers from India and the rest of Asia.
The casinos form part of mixed-use developments that were approved with special 10-year tax concessions and investors were promised on the outset that approvals extended to casinos.
Packer’s Crown Investments group has not responded to the ban but TTG Asia e-Daily has learned that Packer’s local partner, Ravi Wijeratne, flew to Australia last week for urgent consultations on whether to proceed with the US$1.3 billion project.
Packer has said in the past that he would not proceed if casinos are disallowed.
The other two projects involve local businessman Dhammika Perera and the country’s largest hotel operator, John Keells Holdings (JKH). JKH said last week that it has begun construction at the site which also includes a conference facility for 2,500 pax, to become the largest such facility on completion in a few years’ time.
