business & investment

The Board of Investment (BOI) organized this high-level session to create awareness among leading Malaysian business enterprises about foreign direct investment (FDI) opportunities in Sri Lanka.

The full-day investment promotion programme brought together several key stakeholder agencies and ministries, including the Urban Development Authority, Colombo Port City, Sri Lanka Export Development Board, Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority, Department of Commerce, Port City Commission, and CHEC Port City Colombo. The Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MAICCI), whose membership includes State and District Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Malaysia, and operates under the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM), also participated. MAICCI’s activities span trade facilitation, policy engagement, entrepreneurship support, business advisory services, domestic and international networking, investment promotion, and human resource development.

A 15-member Malaysian delegation, led by Mr. Dato’ S. Parthiban, President of the Malaysian Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Penang, visited the BOI to explore potential investment opportunities in Sri Lanka. The delegation represented a wide range of sectors, including ICT, banking, value-added agriculture, mining, IT infrastructure and data centre development, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), manufacturing, healthcare, recycling, semiconductors, waste management, hospitality, business consulting, and biotechnology. A representative from the Prime Minister’s Department of Malaysia also joined the delegation.

Senior officials of the BOI, led by Director General Ms. Renuka M. Weerakone, provided an in-depth overview of Sri Lanka’s investment facilitation framework and business ecosystem. They also highlighted available investment opportunities and structured projects ready for immediate engagement. The session included contributions from Dr. Hans Wijesuriya, Presidential Advisor on Digital Economy; Sanjaya Karunasena, CEO of GovTech Sri Lanka; Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman of the Export Development Board; Raven Wickremasuriya, Director General of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission; Charitha Yattogoda, Head of Trade Promotion Division and Bilateral Affairs; Chaminda Jayasekera, Deputy Director General of the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority; Bai Xiaping, Assistant Managing Director of CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd; along with other senior government and agency officials.

The programme aimed to showcase Sri Lanka’s readiness to host diverse Malaysian investments by presenting sector-specific opportunities, supporting infrastructure, and investor-friendly policies. Each participating agency outlined its respective contribution to facilitating foreign direct investment, while also highlighting the lifestyle advantages available to investors in Sri Lanka.

The Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka presented the national digital transformation roadmap and the country’s potential to advance Industry 4.0 capabilities. GovTech Sri Lanka, as the lead implementation agency, outlined initiatives aimed at improving ease of doing business and accelerating digitalization across government services.

The Export Development Board also highlighted Sri Lanka’s export development landscape and the growing value proposition of “Made in Sri Lanka.” The BOI’s facilitation framework for exporters was presented as a key advantage for investors, offering access to established product markets, strong brand positioning, and opportunities for new business development, positioning Sri Lanka as an attractive launchpad for foreign direct investment.

The NDB Bank has informed the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) that it has identified an internal fraud which may result in a significant financial loss.

The bank has clarified that no customer accounts or deposits have been affected by the incident.

Following a preliminary assessment based on information provided by NDB, CBSL has stated that although a potential loss has been identified, the bank’s prudential indicators—including capital adequacy and liquidity ratios—remain above the minimum regulatory requirements. The Central Bank further noted that it continues to closely monitor the situation and will take appropriate action if necessary.

CBSL also highlighted that, if required, NDB has access to temporary liquidity support facilities available to licensed banks under existing legal and regulatory frameworks.