James Packer's Crown Group says it will not go ahead with a proposed plan to develop a $400 million luxury hotel and resort in Sri Lanka, following a decision by the government in Colombo to scrap tax concessions for the project, a report by Radio Australia said. Yesterday the government decided to cancel generous tax concessions for three foreign resort developments – including Mr Packer's resort – and said it would not issue them licenses to run casinos.
A spokeswoman from Crown was quoted in the report saying the company respected the decision and on that basis the project would not be going ahead.
The concessions were given under the former government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa but critics in opposed the move to give tax breaks to foreign gaming ventures.
A Sri Lankan man was apprehended at Suvarnabhumi airport for attempting to smuggle wildlife out of the country after three ball pythons were found hidden in his underwear, the Bangkok post reported.
Read these and more on tomorrow’s edition of the Sunday Times
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