Sri Lanka can be to India what Macau is to China”

City of Dreams opens in Colombo as island nation bets on luxury tourism

- BY MANJUSHA RADHAKRISHNAN

Sri Lanka has the potential to become for India what Macau is to China, according to Lawrence Ho, chairman of Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd., as the Hong Kong-listed gaming resorts operator opened its first South Asian property in Colombo on Saturday.

"Sri Lanka can be to India what Macau is to China," Ho said at the launch of the $1.2 billion City of Dreams Sri Lanka project, developed with the country's John Keells Holdings.

"Macau is by far the biggest gaming market in the world. Colombo is the closest destination to India, and an integrated resort like this gives the city a lot of potential," he added.

Targeting India, Mideast

The plush property - more than a decade in the making - includes two hotels, apartments, adult gaming facilities, restaurants, a shopping mall and event spaces. A star-studded launch event featured Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan.