Sri Lanka's Board of Investment (BOI) Director General Dr. Sulakshana Jayawardena has identified policy inconsistency, cumbersome approvals, land acquisition delays, and skills shortages as major obstacles to attracting higher foreign direct investment (FDI). Speaking at the CA Sri Lanka 5th Annual Economic and Tax Symposium, he revealed that realised FDI reached only $250 million in the first half of this year, against a $1.5 billion annual target. Last year, Sri Lanka attracted $1.063 billion in realised FDI, falling short of its $1.5 billion target. Dr. Jayawardena distinguished between committed and realised investments, noting that realised investments are only recognised after foreign currency is remitted through Inward Investment Accounts.