Dhammika gears up for gaming kingship

• Enjoying three licenses, proposal to set up $ 350 m 40-storey 500-room Queensbury at D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha submitted to BOI; Venture to create 2,800 jobs


• Plans to lure one more US or Asian gaming brand for the second licence and build 500-700 room integrated resort also at D.R.Wijewardena Mawatha which will also have James Packer-Ravi Wijeratne’s Crown Colombo


• Third licence committed to JKH’s $ 650 m Waterfront project; Dhammika’s existing brands of Bellagio, Bally’s and MGM will be phased out


• Industry believes when operations of four new brands including Crown in full swing, 1 m more tourists could be drawn, with gaming specific visitors accounting for 40% owing to direct marketing

Having shot to business leader status from the origins of gaming industry, Dhammika Perera is now gearing to take his empire to a new level, a move that is likely to re-profile the country’s leisure and entertainment scene for the better.
Dhammika has already submitted his application to the Board of Investment to set up what will be his flagship business venture to date – the $ 350 million Queensbury Integrated Resort and Casino.

Virgin launches glass-bottomed plane

• By Richard Branson -


• Apr 01, 2013

I’m thrilled to announce that Virgin has created another world-first with the introduction of the technology required to produce the world’s first glass-bottomed plane. This technological innovation coincides with the start of Virgin Atlantic Airways’ first ever domestic service to Scotland.

Dutch businesses are bullish on Sri Lanka’s emergent prospects

Dutch businesses are bullish on Sri Lanka’s emergent prospects. “Sri Lanka’s historic links with The Netherlands have entered a new era. This strong business and investment delegation is the latest sign,” said Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Netherlands Buddhi Athauda yesterday, in Mt. Lavinia.
Ambassador Athauda was addressing the inaugural event of the visiting Netherlands business and trade delegation.
The delegation, which is on a week-long tour in Sri Lanka, and which arrived on same day (4 September) in Colombo, consisted of reps from  such leading Dutch firms as JIMPP Media, Abos, Defteq International BV, Beursgenoten, Fleurons & Prins, Velema Holdings, and Zonel Energy Systems.

Flemingo Duty Free signs up with Mobitel’s Club Magnate loyalty program

Flemingo Duty Free Ltd., part of Flemingo International, a Dubai-based global travel retail operator joined hands with Mobitel’s Club Magnate loyalty program recently.
This new partnership will provide for special discounts to all Mobitel customers and Club Magnate members at the Flemingo Duty Free outlet at Bandaranaike International Airport.
In just over15 years, Flemingo has established its operations across three continents; Asia, Europe and Africa and recently won a concession in South America.
It is present in over 26 countries with around 120 operations. Flemingo entered the Sri Lankan duty free market in November 2011 with shops located in both the arrival and departure lounges. The company has over a decade of experience in the South Asian region, with 29 stores in India alone. Flemingo operates across many different formats such as duty free at airports, borders, downtown, seaports, military forces, UN commissary shops as well as luxury retail, travel essential (starter), F&B outlets and coffee shops at airports.
With a heavy focus on emerging markets, Flemingo operates master concession as well as partnering with airports to lend its expertise and operational strength as well as infrastructure assistance.
Mobitel’s Club Magnate loyalty program utilises ground-breaking NFC technology, making it the
first of its kind in Sri Lanka. The program offers an array of benefits and discounts to its post-paid and pre-paid customers through an ever-growing partner merchant network.

Softlogic forays into fast food biz with Burger King franchise deal

Aggressively expanding and diversifying, Softlogic Holdings PLC has picked the burgeoning fast food industry as the latest to explore its own taste of success.
The company yesterday announced it has struck a deal to roll out world famous Burger King restaurants in Sri Lanka.
To undertake its foray Softlogic has floated a fully-owned subsidiary, Softlogic Restaurants Ltd., which is the master franchisee. It has entered into a master franchise and development agreement and a company franchise agreement with BK AsiaPac Pte Ltd. of Singapore to develop, open and operate Burger King Restaurants in Sri Lanka.
BK is a subsidiary of Burger King Worldwide Inc and the master franchiser for the Burger King system in the Asia Pacific region.