9 August 2023 12:00 am Views - 86
By the year 2018, we had reached our goal of being a prominent and colossal convention which aims to strengthen the future of the Sri Lankan Construction Industry. By having we had over 300 attendees from over 10 countries thereby establishing ourselves as an internationally successful symposium. Due to pandemic and other numerous obstacles, we had to do the conference in hybrid form. I strongly believe that from this year onwards we can go back to normal and re-commence out journey to grow to be bigger and better than ever before.
This event is very important to the Industry because, with the help of University of Moratuwa, this is one of the only events where the industry and academia come together. Also I informed there are around 100 research papers being submitted from top ranked universities from all over the world in this time too. Now, there is a strong need to identify these award winning research papers and implement them in the industry. Even in the meeting we had with the President, HE Ranil Wickremasinghe insisted that we have to seriously think about bringing down new technology, improve efficiency in management and cut down wastages to reduce construction cost in Sri Lanka. Construction Industry is one of the largest sector which has been contributed 9.6% to GDP and involves 1.5 Million people directly and indirectly. CIOB has done a lot to the industry and addressing timely needed issues. In the year 2009, CIOB Brought Green Building Certificates system to Sri Lanka affiliated with BCA Singapore. We started the South Asian Lean Construction Association; we conduct various seminars which disseminate knowledge to the industry. We help our contractors to solve their problems by communicating with government and private sector. We have launched CIOB mediation centre with USAID which may help the industry to solve their disputes with each other. When the industry fell in 2020, CIOB took the initiative to give moratoriums for the industry. CIOB also initiated making the Roadmap for the Construction Industry for 2023/24 and handed it over to the President for implementation. This year CIOB thought of encouraging the Contractors, Manufactures and Consultants who have contributed toward Green Sustainable Construction in Sri Lanka, and also happy to announce that out of many applicants highly eminent panel has selected around 20 winners awarding in Platinum/Gold/Silver Categories. I wish all the best for the award winners.
I would like to thank Hon. Dinesh Gunawardhana Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and Hon. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Education and Hon. Suren Ragavan, State Minister for Higher Education for attending our event despite their very busy schedule. I would wish to thank the Evaluation Committee Chairman, Prof. A.K. W. Jayawardane and members consisting of Prof. Chitra Weddikkara, Dr. Tissa Meepe, Dr. Ashan Asmone and Eng. Saliya kaluarachchi for selecting awards on Leadership towards Sustainability. I would like to thank the University of Moratuwa, Our symposium chair- Prof Chitra Wedikkara, Prof. Yasangika Sandanayake and the team, Prof. Anuradha Wiydyasekara and the Team. I shall end by thanking all the Suppliers, Contractors and Material Manufactures for supporting us to keep the World Construction Symposium alive. Also my especial thanks go to our Sponsors, CIOB council and Staff for their support to conclude a successful event.