Sri Lanka's Board of Investment (BOI) Act offers two routes for foreign investors. We help you choose the right one, prepare the dossier, and manage every step with the BOI, the Central Bank and the relevant line ministries.
Section 17 — the privileged regime
Qualifying projects can receive customs-duty exemptions on capital goods, corporate income-tax concessions and simplified foreign-exchange transfers through Inward Investment Accounts (IIA). We structure the investment so it meets the thresholds from day one.
Section 16 — the normal regime
For investments that do not need incentives, Section 16 approval lets a foreign-owned company operate under the normal laws of Sri Lanka. We handle registration, approvals and banking.
How an engagement runs
- Dossier preparation — around one week
- BOI filing — around one week
- Clearances — two to three weeks
- Agreement signing
- Commercial operations
Timelines depend on the sector and the authorities involved. We give you a realistic schedule at the start.