Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Asia is delaying the start of construction work of the Colombo luxury hotel project and 300-room city resort in Hambantota due to some unexpected obstacles.

Trincomalee Port in the former war-torn eastern region is calling for proposals for investment next month – with an eye on hotels. This comes in the wake of the government approving four investors worth US$700 million in the first batch of the first Request for Proposals (RFP) for Hambantota; while also awaiting Cabinet approval for the second batch of six RFPs that was called in Auust 2010.