A brand new casino to be opened at the star-class Ceylon Continental Hotel (former Inter-continental) in Colombo's high security Fort area has been stalled on the orders of the Presidential Security Division (PSD).
The hotel, owned by businessman Nahil Wijesuriya had contracted a well-known casino owner of yesteryear, Nalin Fonseka, to start a gambling den at the hotel. The opening of the US$ 1.6 million (Rs. 180 million) casino scheduled for Friday night was cancelled as orders came from Hanoi where President Mahinda Rajapaksa was on an official visit.
According to sources close to the casino operators, no reasons were given by the PSD for the cancellation even though the required taxes had been paid and licences obtained to operate the casino. These sources said they feared rival casino operators were instrumental in getting the opening stopped.
Ceylon Continental Hotel consultant Milinda Hettiarachchi said that they were only told the opening was 'postopned'. A night club, however, was opened at the same venue instead of the casino.,
The casino was to be managed by a British-based company called FEE Entertainment. |
E-mail