Mangala Yapa has tendered his resignation from the position of Chairman of the Board of Investment (BOI) and ceased to function as the Technical Advisor to Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade with effect from 18 November, ending a short tenure in the public service.

“I resigned on my own volition. BOI chairmanship (and the Board) is appointed by the President in terms of the Act. Felt that I should leave, enabling the new elected President to have a team that he wishes to have,” Yapa tweeted.

Yapa assumed duties as the 22nd Chairman of the country’s apex investment promotion authority, following an earlier stint as a Member of its Board.

Previously,Yapa was the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Colombo Dockyard PLC, a CSE-listed company, for many years and led the company’s rapid growth and international expansion. Subsequently he headed the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) as the Secretary General/CEO and was also President of the National Chamber of Exporters (NCE).

He has functioned as Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade and played a pivotal role in recent strategic and large-scale FDIs.