The Construction sector in Sri Lanka has achieved remarkable progress by contributing nine percent to the GDP and has generated direct and indirect employments for over 800,000 people, Highways and Road Development Minister Kabir Hashim said.
He was addressing the inauguration of Build SL Housing and Construction Expo 2019 in Colombo.
The Minister said that Sri Lanka owned a proud history specially with its advanced irrigation system and water management technology which are shown by the Kuttam Pokuna and great tanks in Rajarata. In 1977 President J R Jayewardene decided to complete the Mahawali Development project within seven years although originally it was planned to be accomplished within 30 years. A Young Minister Gamini Dissanayaka was assigned for the challenge and it was fulfilled by him with the services and assistance of Sri Lankan engineers. The prestigious CECB headed by Dr. A.N.Kulasingha who was one of the great Engineers who rendered a great service to the country, by contributing to complete the Mahavali accelerated development project within seven years. The Mahavali project converted 365,000 acres of dry land into fertile land, he said.
Hashim said that local construction companies have proved that they were able to accept any type of construction projects. The best example was the efficiency and the success shown by local companies which were assigned for the central express way constructions.The minister further said that some changes in the prevailing rules and regulations were needed for the further progress of the construction industry. The government has already taken steps in this regard, he said.
“As a country we must gear ourselves to meet challenges which are always evolving all over the world as well as in all sectors. It is a huge challenge,” he said.
“Fifty percent of the major companies has perished in the recent past because they did not gear themselves for the changes such as accepting new technology and not going for new innovations,” Hashim added.
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