Jan 04, Colombo: Foreign Direct Investments received by Sri Lanka doubled last year reaching US$ 2 billion compared to the previous year, according to the Board of Investment (BOI).

The investment promotion agency attributed the increase in FDI to the Joint efforts made by the Ministry of Economic Development and the Board of Investment to attract more FDI and expressed the hope that prospects for 2013 would be higher.

According to the BOI, 45% of the FDI contribution was for infrastructure development, 28% for production sector and 19% for hotels and restaurants.

During the first nine months of 2012, the BOI approval for tourism projects with FDI amounted to US$ 1.04 billion.

The BOI said it signed agreements with 112 entrepreneurs from January to September last year for an anticipated amount of US$ 2.6 billion. The projects will generate 27,490 job opportunities, it added.

The BOI has also entered into agreements in respect of 21 enterprises with an estimated investment of US$ 384 million.