Constructions not up to standard

14 May 2011 10:40 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 6 Bookmark

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It was revealed that over 60% of buildings in the country pose health hazards to residents due to not being designed in compliance to accepted design specifications.

“We have discovered that a substantial amount of constructions in the country are not designed by professionals and are therefore not designed according to proper standards. The majority of these improperly designed constructions include supermarkets, banks and many other public constructions frequently used by many for daily purposes,” Acting Architecture Department Head of the Moratuwa University, Professor Harsha Munasinghe said speaking at a program held to discuss the importance of constructing buildings in accordance to accepted design specifications and standards.

Disability activist and accessibility advisor Dr. Ajith C. Perera who also spoke at the event organized by IDIRIYA - a humanitarian organization focusing on disability rights, pointed out that it is particularly pregnant mothers, visually impaired persons, senior citizens and individuals recovering from surgeries or illnesses who are most prone to safety hazards due to the lack of standards in constructions. (Lakna Paranamanna)

Comments - 6

DR AJITH C.S. PERERA Saturday, 14 May 2011 07:36 PM

When Standards and Specifications are DISREGARDED and Laws and Regulations DISOBEYED, it creates INFERIOR QUALITY Substandard buildings wasting out resources, posing SAFETY HAZRADS affecting even Physical, Social and Mental Wellbeing - the Three Parts of Good Health.

Sri Lanka can no more PROLONG VIOLATIONS of the Laws and Regulations in force (See SC Orders of 27th April 2011 under SCFR 221 / 2009) and thereby aggravate Social and Economic Issues plaguing the Country in untold proportions.

Violators - OWNERS who also select UNQUALIFIED PERSONS to DESIGN Building Parts - should NO MORE be allowd to roam scott-free whilst the VICTIMS are made to suffer with their lives.

It is NOW or NEVER towards a Better & Safer Sri Lanka!

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MTPBSLT Saturday, 14 May 2011 10:01 PM

responsibility should be taken by the approving authorities as well. You can bribe the approving authorities from top to bottom including UDA. I have wriiten to Defence Secretary (no reply) and talked to Defence Secretary's cordinating officer to UDA over the TP. But no use. This is Sri Lanka.

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meranchi Sunday, 15 May 2011 02:45 AM

Tell me which contractions done by according to quality control..i

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RAJIV Sunday, 15 May 2011 03:10 AM

Excellent points you have Made. Some government buildings don.t even have lifts. People are expected to climb three, four and five floors.

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CEEDEEBEE Sunday, 15 May 2011 03:46 AM

I worked in Construction in Sri Lanka for some 8 years as a H&S Consultant and was, and still am, appalled at the lack of H&S legislation on Construction Sites and enforcement of what little law there is. As H&S is delegated to the rubbish bin should anyone be surprised that Design and Build is treated in the same way. I am of the opinion that many buildings are designed by Draughtspersons, who however good they are as draughtspersons do not have the training of Architects, hence this sad problem. Finally too many 'Architects' are sub standard and egotisical and not prepared to share experiences or take or give advice. The SLIA, in my opinion, are mainly to blame as they are not prepared to accept foreign architects, but are quick to get recognised foreign architect status such as RIBA - (Royal Institute of British Architects) to put behind their names.

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King Sunday, 15 May 2011 04:13 AM

Even if they have lift, they rarely work!

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