Weerakone joined the BOI on June 1, 1994, as an Assistant Manager (Legal) and steadily rose through the ranks to become Director General. During her tenure, she served in numerous key divisions, including Regional Development, Project Implementation, Investment Promotion, Investment Appraisal, Project Monitoring, and the Director General’s Secretariat. She also served as Secretary to the Board for five years.
Prior to joining the BOI, Weerakone practised as an Instructing Attorney at a leading Colombo law firm. An Attorney-at-Law, Notary Public, and Commissioner for Oaths, she later earned a Master of Business Administration from the Postgraduate Institute of Management of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, combining legal expertise with strategic management skills.
Throughout her career, she played a leading role in promoting Sri Lanka as a destination for foreign direct investment. She represented the country at international trade forums and high-level negotiations and led investment promotion missions to major global markets. Her work also extended to numerous project approval committees, policy bodies, and inter-agency task forces focused on improving investment facilitation and resolving investor concerns.
Beyond her responsibilities at the BOI, Weerakone serves as a board member of the Export Development Board (EDB) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Sri Lanka. In recognition of her contributions to international trade and investment promotion, she received the “Women in Investment and International Trade Leadership” award at the Top50 Professional & Career Women Global Awards in 2025.
Reflecting on her retirement, Weerakone noted that a long career in public service had shown her the importance of resilience, continuity, and integrity within state institutions.
“Retirement from a long career in senior public service brings a unique vantage point. It allows one to step away from the daily crises of administration and look at the broader horizon of our national trajectory,” she said, adding that the strength of a nation lies not only in government policies but also in the dedication of its public institutions.
The Board of Investment expressed its gratitude for Weerakone’s three decades of service, describing her tenure as one marked by commitment, leadership, and a lasting contribution to Sri Lanka’s investment landscape.
