Important to enhance capabilities and competencies
Sanjeevi Jayasuriya
*Keeping with the highest priority of
Govt
*Of the regional construction
industry
In keeping with the highest priority of the Government it is
important to enhance capacities and competencies of the regional
construction industry concentrating on provincial development.
|
Dakshitha Thalgodapitiya |
The Construction Chamber being the accredited representative of the
domestic construction industry representing every stakeholder would
facilitate capacity building of the domestic construction industry with
special focus on the North and the East regions, Chamber of Construction
Industry Sri Lanka Chief Executive Officer/Secretary General, Dakshitha
Thalgodapitiya told the Daily News Business. A need has arisen to
develop regional construction industries.
With huge volumes of construction activities taking place in the
Eastern Province under the Negenahira Nawodaya or the Eastern Province
revival program in addition to foreign direct and domestic investments
in the sectors such as tourism, regional construction contractors’
capacity must be developed and they need to be exposed to new
technologies and new products and alternative materials. The Eastern
region development will provide new markets for suppliers of material,
plant and equipment, he said.
There are approximately 400 contractors in Trincomalee, Batticaloa
and Ampara districts out of which there are only four major contractors.
This reflects that regional construction contractors are mostly from the
SME sector and there is a need to facilitate linkages building between
Eastern regional construction industry stakeholders and larger players
from other parts of Sri Lanka to achieve their capacity enhancement, he
said.
“Our Chamber has produced the largest number of construction
craftsmen during the year 2008. We have already identified four
Divisional Secretariats in Batticaloa to set up construction craftsmen
centres with the assistance of the Government of Germany. This would
provide an opportunity for the youth in the area to gain necessary
skills and training that would create job opportunities,” he said. |
