Why Invest in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka offers a strategic location, skilled workforce, investor-friendly policies and modern infrastructure, creating an ideal environment for sustainable business growth.
Strategic Location
Positioned at the heart of the Indian Ocean with seamless access to major global shipping routes.
Skilled Workforce
Highly educated and adaptable talent supporting manufacturing, technology and services.
Attractive Incentives
Competitive tax incentives and investor facilitation services designed for growth.
World-Class Infrastructure
Modern ports, airports, highways and industrial zones supporting global business.
Your Gateway to Growth and Opportunity
Explore investment opportunities, access investor services, and connect with BOI Sri Lanka through a streamlined pathway designed to support your business expansion.
Explore BOI Zones
Discover BOI Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks strategically located across Sri Lanka, offering world-class infrastructure and facilities for investors.
- Export Processing Zones
- Industrial Parks & Locations
- Infrastructure & Facilities
Explore Opportunities
Discover investment opportunities, strategic sectors, incentives and investor resources designed to support your business expansion in Sri Lanka.
- Priority Investment Sectors
- Structured Investment Projects
- Investor Guides & Resources
Apply Online
Submit your investment application online and receive end-to-end facilitation from BOI Sri Lanka throughout your investment journey.
- Online Submission
- Dedicated BOI Assistance
- Transparent Process
Setting Up
Enhanced Capital Allowance
Enhanced Capital Allowances are granted in addition to normal depreciation allowances for new investments and expansion projects in Sri Lanka.
US$ 3M - 100M
US$ 100M - 1B
Above US$ 1B
Depreciable Assets
Class 1
Computers and data handling equipment with peripherals.
Class 2
Vehicles, construction equipment and manufacturing machinery.
Class 3
Aircraft, ships, railway cars and utility equipment.
Class 4
Buildings and permanent structures.
Class 5
Intangible assets and goodwill.
Class 6
Milking machines and dairy technology.
Expatriate Tax Exemption During ECA Period
Employment income of expatriate employees qualifies for a 0% tax rate under the following conditions:
- Company invests more than US$ 250 Million in depreciable assets utilizing ECA allowance.
- The exemption is available for the first 5 years of commercial operations or whichever period is longer.
Registering Your Business
Establish your company in Sri Lanka through the Registrar of Companies (ROC). Follow the steps below to initiate your investment journey.
Check Name Availability
In accordance with the Companies Act No. 7 of 2007, the first step is to verify the availability of your proposed company name.
Company Registration
Submit Articles of Association and incorporation documents through the Registrar of Companies online registration platform.
BOI Prior Approval
BOI-approved projects must obtain prior approval for draft Articles of Association before incorporation.
Registrar of Companies (ROC)
The Department of the Registrar of Companies facilitates the incorporation and registration of companies in Sri Lanka through its online eROC platform. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
📍 Office Address
Registrar of Companies
No. 400, D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha,
Colombo 10, Sri Lanka
☎ Contact Details
Phone: +94 11 268 9208 / 9209
Fax: +94 11 268 9211
Email: info@drc.gov.lk
BOI Laws & Amendments
Access the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka Law and subsequent amendments governing investment activities in Sri Lanka.
BOI Law No. 4 of 1978
Principal Investment LegislationAmendment Act No. 43 of 1980
BOI Amendment ActAmendment Act No. 49 of 1992
BOI Amendment ActAmendment Act No. 36 of 2009
BOI Amendment ActAmendment Act No. 21 of 1983
BOI Amendment ActAmendment Act No. 09 of 2002
BOI Amendment ActAmendment Act No. 03 of 2012
BOI Amendment ActInvestment Threshold & BOI Charges
Investment Threshold
Qualifying Criteria – Minimum Investment (USD)
| 1.1 | Manufacture of non-traditional goods* for export including deemed exports | 500,000 |
| 1.2 | Manufacturing of non-traditional goods using advanced technology (Local Market) | 5,000,000 |
| 1.3 | Large scale manufacturing of non-traditional goods as approved by the Board (Local Market) | 5,000,000 |
| 2.1 | Information Technology (IT) and/or IT enabled services** | 150,000 |
| 2.2 | Information Technology (IT) and/or IT enabled services (Local Market) | 150,000 |
| 2.3 | BPO Industry | 150,000 |
| 2.4 | Tourism & Leisure | 500,000 |
| 2.5 | Utilities (Power generation, water supply, waste management, etc.) | 500,000 |
| 2.6 | Export-oriented services*** | 500,000 |
| 2.7 | Warehousing, logistics and supply chain management and cold storage | 500,000 |
| 2.8 | Training Institutes | 150,000 |
| 2.9 | Research & Development**** | 150,000 |
| 2.10 | Public service projects as approved by the Board local market | 5,000,000 |
| 2.11 | Regional Operating Headquarters | 250,000 |
| 2.12 | Export Trading House Exporting entirely of locally procured manufactured products or re-exporting the entirety of imported products. Location should be within the EPZ or an approved customs bonded warehouse located outside EPZ | Annual Turnover |
| 3.1 | Agriculture and Agro Processing (Export Market) (Raw materials for the product to be sourced locally) | 150,000 |
| 3.2 | Agriculture and Agro Processing (Local Market) (Raw materials for the product to be sourced locally) | 150,000 |
| 4.1 | Small Scale Infrastructure Projects: (a) Construction and operation of Hospital (b) Any other infrastructure construction activity as approved by the Board | 500,000 5,000,000 |
| 4.2 | Large Scale Infrastructure Projects as approved by the Board – Power generation, transmission & distribution – Development of Highways, Sea Ports, Air Ports, Public transport, Railways, Water services – Establishment of Industrial Estates including Develop and management of Industrial Estates/ Special Economic Zones – Any other Infrastructure projects approved by the Board | 3,000,000 12,500,000 |
* Non-traditional goods include all goods other than Black tea in bulk, Crepe rubber, Sheet rubber, Scrap rubber, Coconut oil, Desiccated coconut (other than Desiccated coconut manufactured using continuous scale automated process technology and marketed with a quality guarantee), Copra, Fresh coconuts, coconut fiber or such other commodity as may be determined by the Board.
** IT enabled services includes all call centers or contact centers, transcription (data entry) centers, hosting centers, e-governance software engineering, and other related IT services as approved by the Board.
*** Export-oriented Services includes: Garment washing and finishing plants; Embroidery services; Ship repairing and ship breaking; Textile dyeing and finishing plant; Textile printing; Testing of fabric; Computer-aided design for textile and other industries; Design and production of prototypes of items; Air cargo services; International passenger services; Repacking of containers; and Vacuum packaging services.
**** Research & Development means any systematic or intensive study carried out in the field of science or technology with the object of using the result of the study for the production or improvement of materials, devices, products, procedure or process but not include: Quality control of products or routine testing of materials, products or process; Research in the social sciences or humanities; Market research or sales promotion; Efficiency surveys or management studies; Research in connection with mineral prospecting or exploitation; Routine data collection; Animal husbandry and rearing and/or processing of fish but excluding processing of black tea in bulk.
Application/Agreement Processing Charges
Application/Agreement Processing Charges
| Category | Description | Amount (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| Section 17 | ||
| Investment Application Processing Fee | 400.00 | |
| Agreement Processing Fees | ||
| - For Normal Sec. 17 Projects | 2,500.00 | |
| - Strategic Development Projects | 4,500.00 | |
| Supplementary Agreements | ||
| - For Normal Sec. 17 Projects | 700.00 | |
| - Strategic Development Projects | 4,000.00 | |
| Extension of Project Implementation Period | ||
| - More than/for One (01) Year (Per Month) | 75.00 | |
| - Less than One (01) Year (Per Month) | 100.00 | |
| Section 16 | ||
| Investment Application Processing Fee | 400.00 | |
| Processing Fee for Perusal of Articles of Association of Companies | 200.00 | |
| Agreement Processing Fees | 100.00 | |
| Non BOI Companies | ||
| Agreement Processing Fee - Industrial | 700.00 | |
| Agreement Processing Fee - Non-Industrial | 65.00 | |
| Planning Approvals | ||
| - Planning Approvals - Original | 200.00 | |
| - Planning Approvals - Revision | 100.00 | |
*All charges are liable to Value Added Tax (VAT)
*(All charges can be paid on the rupee equivalent as per the prevailing exchange rate)
Land Rent
| Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks | Non-Refundable Land Premium Payable Upfront per Acre (USD) | Ground Rent Acre per annum (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Katunayaka EPZ | 150,000 | 12,500 |
| 2. Biyagama EPZ | 100,000 | 10,000 |
| 3. Koggala EPZ | 35,000 | 6,225 |
| 4. Malwatta EPP | 37,500 | 5,650 |
| 5. Seethawaka EPZ | 110,000 | 5,650 |
| 6. Horana EPZ | 45,100 | 5,650 |
| 7. Mirigama EPZ | 35,200 | 5,650 |
| 8. Wathupitiwala EPZ | 50,000 | 5,650 |
| 9. Kandy IP | 15,000 | 5,650 |
| 10. Mawathagama EPZ | 14,000 | 5,650 |
| 11. Polgahawela EPZ | 30,000 | 5,650 |
| 12. Eravur EPZ (Textile Manufacturing Zone) | 35,000 | 5,000 |
| 13. Mirijjawila EPZ | 20,000 | 4,660 |
| 14. Wagawatta EPZ | 40,000 | 4,660 |
| 15. Bingiriya EPZ | 10,000 | 4,235 |
| 16. Arabokka EPZ (Pharma Manufacturing Zone) | 20,000 | 4,660 |
Land Reservation Fee: 10% of Land Premium
Lease Period: 30 years
All charges are liable to Value Added Tax (VAT)
EPZ = Export Processing Zone
EPP = Export Processing Park
IP = Industrial Park
Annual Fees applicable for Enterprises located outside BOI EPZs / EPP / IPs / IZ
| Ref | Description | US$ (Per Annum) |
|---|---|---|
| Section 17 | Annual Fees | |
| a) | Normal Projects | 3,450 |
| b) | Agriculture Projects | 1,250 |
| c) | Coir Based Industries and Handicraft Projects | 1,550 |
| d) | Hospitals, Utilities, Hotels & Tourism Sector Projects and other Infrastructure Projects | |
| i. | During Project Implementation – Project less than USD 3 Mn | 4,750 |
| ii. | During Project Implementation – USD 3 Mn to USD 10 Mn | 8,800 |
| iii. | During Project Implementation – Project more than USD 10 Mn | 11,800 |
| iv. | During Project Implementation – Strategic Development Projects | 22,000 |
| i. | After Implementation (Tax Holiday / Concessionary Period) – Project less than USD 3 Mn | 3,100 |
| ii. | After Implementation – USD 3 Mn to USD 10 Mn | 7,400 |
| iii. | After Implementation – Project more than USD 10 Mn | 10,400 |
| iv. | After Implementation – Strategic Development Projects | 14,800 |
| After Tax Holiday & Concessionary Tax Period | 1,500 | |
| e) | Manufacturing / Services Sector – Strategic Development Projects | 22,000 |
| After Tax Holiday & Concessionary Period – 75% of the Annual Fee prevailing at expiry of concession period | 75% | |
| Section 16 | Annual License Fee | 550 |
All charges are liable to VAT and other Government Levies.
Source: Extra Ordinary Gazette No. 2419/07 (15 January 2025)
Environment Protection Licencing Charges
EPL Inspection Fee
EPL inspection fee for the activities specified under Schedule IV of Extra Ordinary Gazette No. 2419 / 07 published under the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka Law No 04 of 1978 (15 January 2025) is as follows:
| Inspection Fee (LKR) | 20,000/- + Tax |
| Environmental Recommendation – Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) | 75,000/- + Tax |
Source: Extra Ordinary Gazette No. 2419 / 07 (15 January 2025)
EPL Licence Fee
The Licence Fee and the Renewal Fee for the activities specified in Parts A, B, C and D of the Order made under section 23A of the National Environmental Act, No. 47 of 1980, shall be as follows:
| Part | Duration | Fee (LKR) |
|---|---|---|
| A | One year or less | 15,000/- + Tax |
| B | One year or less | 10,000/- + Tax |
| C |
Two years or less (Payable in two equal installments) |
4,000/- + Tax |
| D |
Three years or less (Payable in three equal installments) |
4,500/- + Tax |
Find Your Next Strategic Business Partner
Discover investment opportunities, connect with entrepreneurs, innovators, and existing investors through Sri Lanka's Partnership Finder platform.
Partnership Finder
Connecting investors, entrepreneurs and innovators.Entry and stay
Apply Visa Online
Submit your expatriate visa applications through the BOI facilitation process.
- Certified BOI Certificate
- BOI Agreement
- Articles of Association
- Form 1 - Director Details
- Form 2A - Incorporation Certificate
- Company Request Letter
Visa Compliance
Ensure timely submission of required documents for uninterrupted visa processing.
Section 17 Projects- Annual Fee
- Audited Financial Statements
- Bi-annual Report
- Employment Details
- COC (If Applicable)
- EPL (If Applicable)
- Annual Fee
- Audited Financial Statements
- Employment Details
Invest, Live & Study in Sri Lanka
Explore Sri Lanka's Long-Term Residence Visa programme designed for investors and professionals.
