Packer’s casino plans hit by election jitters
View(s):The government’s decision to ban casinos in three new integrated luxury resorts including Australian billionaire James Packer’s Crown Colombo Casino was influenced by possible elections plans this year, informed sources said.
They said there was concern that there could be eve of election protests both from constituent parties and the opposition which would create a negative picture for the ruling party, they said.
The Australian billionaire was to invest US$350 million to build a 36-story skyscraper known as ‘Crown Colombo’ at D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha, Colombo.
Packer and his Sri Lankan partner Ravi Wijeratne Chairman of Rank Holdings Private Ltd were not available for comment.
Packer currently concentrates on his new City of Dreams Manila in the Philippines and Studio City project in Macau, which is scheduled to open this year and next respectively as part of his Melco Crown Entertainment joint venture. He is also eying casino licenses in Japan and the US.