Training skilled construction workers - a priority for State

Hiran H. Senewiratne

TRAINING: Training skilled workers for the construction industry will enable them to capture lucrative Middle Eastern job

markets, against the backdrop of the construction boom there, Minister of Construction and Engineering Services, Rajitha Senaratne said.

“Today the construction industry is booming in the Middle-Eastern countries, therefore, we could export skilled workers for those markets, Minister Senaratne said at the launch of “Excon 2007”, annual trade fair of the Chamber of Construction Industry (CCI), which will be held from May 11 to 13 at the BMICH. Minister said that we must export professional services, which accrue to the benefit of the country.

He said the construction sector in Sri Lanka contributes to the country’s economy in a big way and CCI could act as a facilitator to promote private-public sector partnership for especially infrastructure projects.

“We need to encourage local contractors to undertake local infrastructure projects rather than foreign construction firms. For that we need to have capacity building system for skilled workers to meet international standards, Minister Senaratne said.

“This would also help local construction companies to go for or undertake foreign contracts with the construction boom on, especially in the Middle Eastern countries, he said. He said that he is planning to bring a Construction Law to the country, which will encompass all disciplines and stakeholders of the sector.

“At present this sector encounters many impediments due to the dearth of raw materials, like sand, and we are looking at the possibilities to promote the use of off -shore sea sand instead of river sand for the construction industry, he said.

The Minister said after many years a dedicated cabinet ministry has been appointed to deal with the construction industry.

“Under the Mahinda Chinthanaya ten-year programme the construction industry has been given highest priority, he said.

Minister of Export Development and International Trade Prof. G.L. Pieris said that local construction companies cannot compete with international construction firms as those companies are backed with a lot of resources.

Prof. Pieris said that CCI should link up with small and medium sized companies with the support of SME Bank to become globally competitive to undertake foreign projects.