The casino at City of Dreams Sri Lanka, to be managed by Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd, is due to open on August 2, according to a Thursday announcement.
The gaming firm is an investor in the casino portion of the US$1.2-billion Sri Lanka resort complex in the capital, Colombo, developed by its local partner John Keells Holdings Plc. Melco Resorts had previously mentioned it would spend US$125 million as its contribution toward the casino resort.
“This launch marks the completion of the final components of the project, including a world-class casino, the luxurious Nüwa hotel and a premium shopping mall,” stated the partners in a press release.
City of Dreams Sri Lanka (pictured in a file photo) features 800 rooms and suites, comprising of a 687-room luxury hotel branded “Cinnamon Life”, which was launched in October last year.
Melco Resorts will manage the 113-room Nüwa hotel at the Colombo complex. Nüwa is a brand that already features at the group’s City of Dreams property in Macau, and at the City of Dreams Manila casino complex, which the casino brand manages in the Philippine capital.
The announcement cited Lawrence Ho Yau Lung, chairman and chief executive of Melco Resort, as saying that the company was “thrilled to be part” of the casino resort development in Sri Lanka, and “to be in partnership with John Keells”.
He added: “We believe Sri Lanka has immense potential, and this opportunity complements our existing portfolio of properties.
“City of Dreams Sri Lanka is expected to serve as a catalyst for stimulating tourism demand and promoting economic growth in Sri Lanka, drawing inspiration from the successful examples set by similar integrated resorts in other jurisdictions.”
Krishan Balendra, John Keells’ chairperson, said in prepared remarks that the opening of the casino and the Nüwa hotel marked “the realisation of a key pillar of City of Dreams Sri Lanka, bringing to fruition the integrated development that was envisioned over a decade ago”.
Mr Balendra stated: “With Melco’s globally recognised expertise and exceptional standards, we believe this unique addition will significantly enhance Colombo’s tourism appeal, drive foreign exchange earnings, and create meaningful employment opportunities.”
According to John Keells’ annual report, published earlier this month, Nüwa at City of Dreams Sri Lanka will be on the top five floors of the hotel tower at the resort, with “dedicated access to the casino”. The latter will have 180,000 square feet (circa 16,725 sq. metres) available for gaming operations.
Melco Resorts was awarded a licence to run a gaming venue in Sri Lanka valid for a “term of 20 years effective from 1 April 2024”.
