New head at BoI following controversy

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has named leading civil engineer and former Ambassador Raja Edirisuriya as the new Chairman of the Board of Investment. Edirisuriya is scheduled to take up his appointment today (15).

The new appointment was made in the wake of Sanjaya Mohottala’s resignation despite President Gotabaya Rajapaksa requesting him to remain. However, BOI trade union grouping repeatedly pushed for Mohottala’s removal claiming he was not able to achieve targets regardless of promises made.

The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) too summoned the BOI where the conduct of its operations were questioned.

Currently the Executive Project Management Director for Colombo Port City Development Project,

Edirisuriya has previously served as Chairman of the Urban Settlement Development Authority (USDA), Sri Lanka State Engineering Corporation (SEC) and Mihin Lanka Airline.

Edirisuriya has also represented Sri Lanka as Ambassador to Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Surinam. During his tenure from 2013 to 2015, he promoted trade and tourism between Latin America and Sri Lanka and also helped facilitate support for Sri Lanka among Brazil, Chile, and Argentina on United Nations Humans Rights resolutions against the country.

Having obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA and his Master’s in Public Administration at the University of La Verne, California. Edirisuriya held the position of Administrator and City Engineer for almost 16 years at the City Council of Chino, California.