Sri Lankan expertise for constructions in ME countries

Raja WAIDYASEKERA - Tissamaharama special orrespondent

A lot of constructions in Saudi Arabia and Doha Qatar are being carried out by Sri Lankan exports using Sri Lankan expertise said the minister of Construction and Engineering Services Rajitha Senaratne.

The Minister was addressing the 15th AGM of the Sri Lanka National Contractors Association's Southern branch at Club Koggala Village, Koggala.

The minister said that Sri Lanka has enough raw materials for the production of cement.

If potential investors are invited to the country Sri Lanka has the possibility of exporting cement even to foreign countries.

He said desalination plants should be set up in the country to be used in the construction industry so that there will not be a shortage of water for drinking and other purposes.

The Minister said this is an expensive task that needs billions of rupees. But this should be started at least as a pilot project.

He said Norway has donated 63 million Euros to the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation and 10 million Euros for a water supply scheme.

He said the private sector contractors in Sri Lanka have excelled and surpassed the state sector contractors. That is a good sign. The Minister said that unity and cooperation among the contractors associations have greatly contributed towards this.

He said that during his short tenure of office as minister he had solved a lot of problems and obstructions that prevailed in the construction industry for decades.

Award of certificates and souvenirs were also distributed at the AGM, for those who excelled in the construction industry.

Chairman of the National Contractors' Association of Sri Lanka Dr. Rohan Karunaratne, Secretary Mahanama Jayamanna, Southern branch chairman of Sri Lanka national contractors association Ruwan de Silva, Secretary S. R. Liyanarachchi, D. Punchihewa and S. Jayatunga were present.