City of Dreams Sri Lanka opens its gaming floor to the public
John Keells Holdings and Melco Resorts & Entertainment held the grand opening of City of Dreams Sri Lanka on August 2 2025. This launch marks the completion of the final components of the project, including a world-class casino, the luxurious Nüwa hotel and a premium shopping mall.
Melco has a 20-year licence for the 180,000 square foot casino. The milestone partnership marks the debut of South Asia’s first fully integrated resort and Sri Lanka’s largest private sector investment in luxury lifestyle to date – an over US$1.2bn development that redefines Colombo’s place on the global tourism map.
Melco Chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho believes Sri Lanka has the chance to ‘be to India what Macau is to China.’
Mr Ho said: “Sri Lanka is perfectly positioned as a gateway to key feeder markets, including India, China, and Russia, with India in particular showing tremendous growth in its affluent middle and upper classes. By leveraging our global network of properties and expertise, we aim to attract high-value international travellers who are seeking world-class experiences in an authentic and unique destination like Sri Lanka.”
Strategically located in the heart of Colombo, the integrated resort brings together world-class hospitality, upscale retail, immersive entertainment, and cutting-edge MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) infrastructure in one dynamic destination.
The development includes 800 rooms and suites, comprising of a 687-room luxury hotel branded Cinnamon Life which was launched in October 2024, and a 113-room ultra-luxury hotel under Melco’s flagship Nüwa brand. It also boasts expansive MICE facilities designed to host global business events and conventions and a premium shopping and lifestyle promenade.
As City of Dreams expands its iconic brand into a vibrant new market, it capitalises on Sri Lanka’s strategic location and the region’s growing tourism demand. By introducing global expertise in luxury hospitality and gaming, the resort is poised to elevate the standard and appeal of Sri Lanka’s tourism offerings.
City of Dreams Sri Lanka is more than a resort – it is the epicenter of a new lifestyle movement, where modernity, elegance, and local culture converge. The landmark project sets new benchmarks for luxury, sustainability, and community engagement, redefining the region’s tourism narrative.
Krishan Balendra, Chairperson of the John Keells Group stated: “The opening of the casino and Nuwa hotel operated by Melco marks the realisation of a key pillar of City of Dreams Sri Lanka, bringing to fruition the integrated development that was envisioned over a decade ago. This milestone sets a new benchmark in South Asia for world-class lifestyle, entertainment, and retail offerings. With Melco’s globally recognised expertise and exceptional standards, we believe this unique addition will significantly enhance Colombo’s tourism appeal, drive foreign exchange earnings, and create meaningful employment opportunities. City of Dreams Sri Lanka stands as a bold testament to our confidence in Sri Lanka’s future and our continued commitment to nation-building through transformative investments. We are attracting not only Indians, with a large neighbouring booming economy, but also travellers from China and South-east Asia where Melco has its operations.”
Mr Ho added: “We are thrilled to be part of this landmark development in Sri Lanka and to be in partnership with John Keells. We believe Sri Lanka has immense potential, and this opportunity complements our existing portfolio of properties. City of Dreams Sri Lanka is expected to serve as a catalyst for stimulating tourism demand and promoting economic growth in Sri Lanka, drawing inspiration from the successful examples set by similar integrated resorts in other jurisdictions.”
