BOI zones to be upgraded

The Board of Investment (BOI) will invest Rs. 3 billion to upgrade the 12 BOI zones in the country to be model zones within the next three years.

According to BOI Executive Director Technical Services Sunil De Silva, model zones will have all facilities required by the investors to benchmark with any international BOI zone once the work is completed.

He said the infrastructure development would include new landscaping and improvement to roads with asphalt concrete pavements instead of traditional ones.

New waste water treatment plants will also be set up as the existing capacity is insufficient. New facilities for solid waste management will also be introduced. Apart from those best practices, efficient services and aesthetic appearance will add value to these zones.

He said that the Katunayake BOI zone which was established in 1979 has 530 acres of land and the largest among 12 zones and today there are 84 industries and 43,000 employees. Rs. 280 million out of the total amount has been allocated to improve this BOI zone. The other zones are situated in Biyagama, Seethawaka, Horana, Koggala, Mawathagama, Polgahawela, Meerigama, Wathupitiwala, Kandy, Malwatta and Mirijjawila.