Minister warns of rising white collar crime
Ishara Mudugamuwa
Though LTTE terrorism has ended white collar crime is on the rise in
the country, said Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common
Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa.
Participating as the Chief Guest at the Annual General Meeting of Sri
Lanka Quantity Surveyors held recently at JAIC Hilton Colombo Minister
Weerawansa said that when we try to change traditional procedures in
some fields, the white collar mafia scuttles our efforts,”said the
minister.
“The role of quantity surveyors is very much essential for the
development of the construction sector. They do a great service by
handling natural resources carefully and enabling us to get over.
money’s worth for what is spent on construction projects. Most get most
of the raw material from nature. It should be highly appreciated that
they make use of natural resources which not only benefits not the
construction sector, but other fields too.” said the minister.
“Our quantity surveyors have shown their talents in foreign
countries. They have been highly recognized by the Middle East which is
a honour to us.” he said.
The minister also said there is a rapid growth of the construction
sector at present. “But we have lots of challenges, such as, the
shortage of human resources, raw materials, high production costs, etc.
The country’s economy shows 8.3 percent growth and unemployment has
dropped. So there is a possibility to have that type of challenge.
“When the agriculture sector faced a lean period in the past, the
sons of farmers moved to urban areas to seek jobs specially in the
construction and security fields.
“The Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry and the
Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities
Ministry havecommenced a joint programme to produce skilled labour for
the construction sector”, said the minister.
ICTAD Chairman Udula Bandara Ausadahamy, International Surveying
Special Adviser Keith G.Skelton, Sri Lanka Surveyor Association Chairman
Hemantha Aponsu , Prof. Chithra Wediccara and many others participated
in the occasion.
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