Construction starts on Qatar luxury villas

Mohammed Naalir

Construction and Engineering Services Minister Rajitha Senaratne yesterday officially inaugurated construction work on 350 luxury villas in Qatar.

The luxury villas has been estimated to cost is US$ 500 million. Minister Senaratne left for Qatar earlier this week and State Engineering Corporation Chairman Kumara de Silva also accompanied the Minister.

Qatari leaders too participated in the inaugural ceremony Ministry sources added. During this tour Minister Senaratne is due to hold talks with relevant authorities to construct 15,000 luxury housing villas in the second phase of the project.

The idea to commence the second phase construction of luxury villas was mooted by the Minister during the signing of first phase construction.

Minister Senaratne intends to raise foreign exchange earnings by taking part in the road development in Qatar.

The agreement to commence the construction of the luxury villas was signed between the State Engineering Corporation and the Qatar Government in November last year. The Ministry is also planning to penetrate the construction market of Western countries.

The Ministry sources said an opportunity has risen for thousands of Sri Lankans to get employment opportunities in Qatar following the commencement of the construction work of luxury villas.

Ministry sources placed confidence that Sri Lanka could double the foreign exchange earnings from Qatar construction. This will exceed the income earned by domestic workers in the Middle East at present.