Strictly no prostitution, only gaming and other activity at Crown Complex
The Sri Lankan government is compelled to permit the Colombo Crown complex with a casino as a mixed development project at D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha under the aegis of the Rank Group as a massive US $350 million investment commitment has been made, the Chief of the Rank Group says, strongly rejecting concerns that the project will promote prostitution.The project is a joint venture of Australian casino mogul James Packer’s Crown Group and local casino tycoon Ravi Wijeratne’s Rank Group. Mr. Wijeratne, Chairman Rank Group, told the Business Times that the government has already issued a gazette notification recently granting strategic development project status to the complex and it only needs parliamentary approval to commence the construction work.
Ravi Wijeratne
“I am going to run a hotel and a gaming club. I will not allow prostitution in my hotel under any circumstances. I am an ardent Buddhist and father of four children,” he said.
The complex will have a 5-star hotel with 450 rooms and VIP suites and five restaurants (including a hawker style food court), etc and is designed by YWS Architects, a US-based firm specialising in gambling venues.
Dispelling rumours on James Packer’s hesitation of investing in the project, Mr. Wijeratne said that Packer has a great affection and optimism on the potential of the country and he will never back down from the project as he has agreed to it after lengthy discussions with him and his associates for around two years.
Mr. Wijeratne explained as to how he became an owner of casinos after his return to the island in 1992 from England completing his studies. He is also the chief of GreyLine shipping and transports company and the owner of Stardust casino as well as a board member of SMB Leasing.
He said that he owns two casinos registered with Inland Revenue Department in accordance with betting and gaming levy regulations and is paying millions of rupees in taxes to the government.
Mr. Wijeratne said his aim is to attract high-end gaming clientele from India, China and Singapore.
Casino trends prevailing in the Asian region will shift to Africa after 20 years, he predicted, adding that Sri Lanka will miss the bus if it fails to step in at this moment.
He said that the casino will target ‘rich Indians’ planning a gambling trip to Macau or Singapore. “We plan to divert them to Colombo which is closer to their homes.” He told the Business Times that India is largely an untapped market for Sri Lanka casinos, as most of the foreign clientele comes from China and Singapore, with India’s contribution at around 2 per cent.
Buddhist priests and opposition political parties are vehemently opposed to the Crown complex project claiming that it will encourage many vices including prostitution.
Rejecting these allegations, he said that this is an absolute misconception. He said he has been in the business for more than 20 years but his casino doesn’t encourage prostitution or any other vices. Casinos and prostitution are far apart and have no relationship whatsoever.