Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited announced its partnership with John Keells Holdings PLC in their USD 1 billion plus integrated resort development in central Colombo. As part of the partnership, the integrated resort, which had previously been branded "C Cinnamon Life Integrated resort", will be rebranded as "City of Dreams Sri Lanka". City of Dreams Sri Lanka will be the first integrated resort in Sri Lanka and South Asia and is expected to revolutionize luxury hospitality, entertainment, and leisure in Sri Lanka, presenting an extraordinary architecture and design and a collection of iconic and unparalleled offerings including 800 hotel rooms, retail, food & beverage outlets, MICE facilities, and much more.

Additionally, a wholly-owned local subsidiary of Melco has been awarded a 20-year casino license by the Government of Sri Lanka. Melco will fit-out and operate the gaming area at City of Dreams Sri Lanka, and Melco will manage the top 5 floors of the hotel under its Nuwa brand of ultra high-end luxury rooms, which represents 113 of the 800 total hotel rooms at City of Dreams Sri Lanka. Melco and John Keells have agreed all key commercial arrangements and expect fit-out of the casino area to begin shortly.

The estimated initial investment in the casino is expected to be approximately USD 125 million. The non-gaming facilities of the integrated resort, including the 687 key Cinnamon Life hotel managed by John Keells, is in the final stages of completion and is expected to commence operations in the third quarter of 2024, while expect to commence casino operations in mid-2025. There is potential for further expansion of the gaming facilities, subject to performance and market conditions.