'Arrangements afoot for construction renaissance'
Ridma DISSANAYAKE
Arrangements are afoot to present the Construction Development Bill
in Parliament with the aim of making vast strides in the local
construction industry. All measures will be taken to protect and support
local constructors through this Bill, Construction, Engineering
Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa said.
"The Bill which is to be presented in Parliament, will be dedicated
to the development of the construction industry. It will uplift the
industry as well," the minister said.
Minister Weerawansa was addressing the Sri Lanka WP National
Construction Association Awards Night-2011 at Taj Samudra Hotel
recently.
He said Sri Lanka is going through progressive times after passing a
traumatic conflict period.
"The background is now good for investing money in the industrial
field. Because of the peaceful background, a number of foreign investors
and constructors are paying more attention to Sri Lanka than in the
past. We have to face several challenges. We should know how to derive
more benefits and manage this positive environment for the development
of the construction industry," the minister said.
"Flyovers and expressways have been constructed, provincial roads
have been modernized and a number of development programmes have been
implemented. But there are no more opportunities for local constructors
in these development projects. This has become a main problem for them,
Minister Weerawansa said.
"We are now making our maximum contribution to solve this problem. We
hope that the Construction Development Bill will provide a solution to
this problem. The other problem is the weakness in the research side of
the construction field. It could be a threat to the environment and
sometimes costly because of the lack of knowledge about the field."
"We must change these things and we should pay attention to make
technical changes which are suitable to the country. We hope to give
successful solutions to all these matters through the Bill," the
minister said.
Minister Weerawansa also received an award for his services to make
the "Jana Sevena" a successful housing project and for his dedication to
the development of the local construction industry.
Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities
Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Jayaratne, Construction Training and
Development Institute's chairman Udula Bandara Avusadahami, Sri Lanka
National Construction Association chairman Priyantha Perera and local
constructors also participated. |