Govt. says FDIs on the up

Due to political stability and the peaceful atmosphere prevailing in the country, Sri Lanka has become conducive to foreign investment and during the period from January to June this year, the Board of Investment has entered into agreements for 42 investment projects.

This was stated by the Acting Minister of Mass Media and Information and the Deputy Minister of Economic Development Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena addressing a Media Conference held at the Information Department yesterday.

He said that these investments have brought over Rs. 139,936 million as direct foreign investment to the country. In addition to this, he said, that local investors have invested Rs. 33,201 million. Accordingly an amount of Rs. 173,138 million has been invested for the projects started within the first six months of this year.

Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said that agreements have also been reached for expansion of 23 existing projects. Foreign investments amounting to Rs. 12,446 million and local investments amounting to Rs. 52,674 million has been made for these expansion projects, generating 6703 employment opportunities. He said that due to the investments made in Sri Lanka within the first six months of this year, 24,469 employment opportunities have been generated.