Chamber initiates novel program:
Construction related trade fair
Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA
The Chamber of Construction Industry will launch a series of
construction related trade fairs and exhibitions.
This is to attract human resource necessary for the industry, Chamber
Chief Executive Officer / General Secretary Dakshitha Thalgodapitiya
told Daily News Business.
This is in keeping with the vision for the future by President
Mahinda Rajapaksa to provide training for 25,000 craftsmen for the
construction industry within this year.
"These initiatives will facilitate to create knowledge based regional
industries.
High emphasis is given to provincial development and training in
construction crafts and capacity building of the regional construction
industry which is a fundamental pre-requisite," he said.
The Chamber of Construction Industries (CCI) has tied up with the
Employee Trust Fund (ETF) to facilitate enrolment of craftsmen with ETF
to enjoy benefits the Fund offers its membership.
"These facilities for the construction industry workers will enhance
the image and also enable to attract young people for the industry.
"The industry stakeholders should support the efforts to build the
industry image, enhance capacities and competencies," Thalgodapitiya
said.
A need has risen to enhance the capacity and competencies to make a
successful bid to undertake the implementation of many programs
identified in the housing sector and infrastructure development.
With the construction industry being largely dominated by micro,
small and medium scale construction contractors it is important to focus
on capacity building of this large segment, he said.
The Chamber has launched programs for the benefit of the SME
contractors of Western Province together with the National Construction
Association of Sri Lanka.
"There is a need to upgrade the quality of construction craftsmen and
to facilitate their accreditation.
Programs of this nature would help achieve this objective," he said.
Any country should promote stability and long-term sustainability in
the construction industry. The industry could foster economic growth and
international competitiveness while addressing historic imbalances.
"The Government should play an active role as the regulating
authority for the construction industry to progress," he said. |