BOI appoints veteran civil servant Jayawardena as Director General

Dr. Sulakshana Jayawardena

Dr. Sulakshana Jayawardena, a senior Sri Lankan civil servant with more than two decades of experience in public administration and energy sector reforms, has been appointed Director General of the Board of Investment (BOI), the agency announced yesterday. 

“Stepping into the role of Director General means moving from high-level governance to direct, decisive execution,” Jayawardena said in a statement, adding that the agency would focus on streamlining processes, reducing barriers for investors and promoting a digitally enabled business environment. 

A Special Grade Officer of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service, Jayawardena brings more than 23 years of experience in policy development, project management and public administration. Much of his career has been spent in the power and energy sector, where he was involved in reforms, renewable energy development, rural electrification programmes and energy regulation. 

The BOI said the new Director General would lead efforts to strengthen investor services, improve operational efficiency and position Sri Lanka as a competitive destination for foreign investment, while advancing plans to build a sustainable and Industry 4.0-ready industrial ecosystem. 

Jayawardena holds a PhD, a Master’s degree in Business Studies from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Peradeniya.