Private Sector Investment in Infrastructure is not new in Sri Lanka. With the start of the Secretariat for Infrastructure Development Institute (SIDI) in 1993 and later Bureau of Infrastructure Investment (BII) in 1997 established under the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI), paved the way for promoting and facilitating private sector investments in infrastructure in Sri Lanka. The period 1995 - 2002 was a dynamic era where such a large number of flagship projects took place with private investment. Several Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) and a large Port Terminal were initiated during this period. With the close of the BII in 2003/2004, the activities slowed down and revived in 2006/2007. Especially after the Seoul Declaration the Government reactivated the PPP Process.
At present, the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) with technical support from the World Bank has initiated action to identify any gaps in the legal and regulatory framework in Sri Lanka in relation to PPP development and implementation. The proposed work is planned to commence in March 2010 and end in December 2010.