PACKER UPSET OVER CHANGE OF PLANS

Casino King upset because of change in plans

     James Packer, an Australian casino king who had prepared the plans necessary to start a massive casino centre in Sri Lanka in the recent past is now upset over the conditions forwarded by the Sri Lankan government. Though it was the property in front of Colombo Lake House which now is a parking centre that has been allocated for the said casino, it is reported that permission cannot be granted for this venture and though it has been planned that a building with 36 stories was to be erected, a resident building with such a number of stories cannot be permitted.

     It is also reported that he had been advised to look for another location for this purpose in D.R.Wijewardena Mawatha.

      Packer was preparing to construct Colombo Casino Crown Centre as the largest gambling centre in Sri Lanka with the objective of targetting affluent businessmen from China and India. The Sri Lankan government had consented to this venture because this project would bring in a large amount of taxes to Sri Lanka and required provisions too were granted by way of amendments to related Acts with the aim of developing the local tourist trade. An agreement relating to this too was signed as a BOI project and Packer had even visited Sri Lanka to observe the said location.

Monies had been invested on this project by establishments such as Crown Colombo, Lake Leisure and Rank Holdings belonging to Ravi Wijeratna. It is however reported that though Packer has been upset over the change of location, discussions are underway over the steps to be taken after changes are effected; but that the construction of the casino centre would not be halted.