Chinese Investment and the BRI in Sri Lanka

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is having profound impacts on recipient countries. This paper examines the benefits and costs of the BRI and its projects to Sri Lanka and the lessons that may improve future BRI projects in Sri Lanka and elsewhere. Local commentary and interviews in Sri Lanka confirm that the recent growth of Chinese investment is generally welcomed. At the same time, the scale of investment, entailing the significant involvement of local resources and stakeholders, has generated concerns that show there is a need for national institutions to plan projects according to empirical and fiscally sound criteria, to consider their security dimensions, and to ensure public trust in investment projects by disseminating accurate information, engaging the public, and combating any signs of corruption. These outcomes are in the interests of both Sri Lanka and China, which are deeply invested in the success of the projects, though in different ways.