Sri Lanka’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) rose by US$ 96 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to the same period in 2024, the Board of Investment (BOI) revealed during a progress review meeting held on June 20 at the Presidential Secretariat. The session was chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
In addition to the FDI growth, the BOI reported that domestic investment increased by US$ 21 million, and export income rose by US$ 176 million in the same period. So far in 2025, the country has received foreign investment proposals worth US$ 4.67 billion.
The meeting also addressed the challenges hindering investment and explored strategies to boost investor confidence. President Dissanayake emphasized that the BOI plays a critical role in strengthening the national economy and uplifting rural living standards. He urged the agency to move beyond traditional sectors, as such avenues are becoming increasingly limited.
The President stressed the need for Sri Lanka to identify emerging sectors and innovation-driven opportunities to remain competitive in the global market. He noted that Sri Lanka has attracted only about US$ 22 billion in FDI since 1978, a figure that falls significantly behind regional counterparts like Vietnam, which drew US$ 23 billion in 2022 alone.
He called on the BOI to focus on expanding investments in the services sector, and to proactively seek new investment avenues instead of merely trying to recapture missed opportunities.
The meeting was attended by key BOI officials, including Chairman Arjuna Herath, Acting Director General Renuka Weerakone, and Senior Economic Affairs Advisor to the President, Duminda Hulangamuwa.
