National Construction policy to be passed shortly

Mohammed NAALIR

Construction and Engineering Services Minister Rajitha Senaratne yesterday said that the national construction policy will be passed in Parliament shortly to promote and develop the construction industry.

He noted that at the same time another Bill, Construction Industry Development Act will also be presented to Parliament for approval.

Minister Senaratne expressed confidence that the construction sector will be one of the main employment generators in Sri Lanka.

He said plans were afoot to absorb 6000 youths to construction industry annually as a move to eliminate unemployment while attracting the younger generation to the development of the country.

He said that a scholarship scheme will be formulated titled Nena Pola to train the youths in the construction sector.

The construction and Engineering Services Ministry had entered into an agreement with the Vocational Training and Technical Education Ministry to train employees who are presently employed in the construction sector and grant them an internationally recognised National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) certificates. There are 500,000 persons presently employed in the construction sector, the Minister pointed out. Minister Senaratne said the Deukosha metal quarry were engaged in the production of artificial sand using rock stone to cater to the increasing demand for sand in the construction industry.

Talks have been held with Hungarian Government to purify sand and to distribute to the construction industry as a alternative material for river sand.