Chairman, Ceylon Institute of Builders, Dr. Rohan Karunaratne, presenting a memento to Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, who was the chief guest at the World Construction Symposium-2016 in Colombo recently

The Ministry of Finance has stepped in to evolve a long-term solution to the prevailing critical dearth of trained technicians in Sri Lanka’s construction industry. 

In line with this move to tackle the growing problem, the Ceylon Institute of Builders (CIOB) has been entrusted with the responsibility of training 25,000 new technical personnel to meet the country’s immediate requirements. With the objective of accomplishing this mission, the CIOB, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, will launch an ambitious programme island-wide within the next few weeks to provide vocational training absolutely free-of-charge to young boys and girls in the construction industry.

Expressing his views on the proposed vocational training initiative CIOB Chairman Dr. Rohan Karunaratne, said, “Some weeks ago, we partnered with the University of Moratuwa to host the ‘World Construction Symposium –2016’ in Sri Lanka. We organized this confab for a collective discourse on the latest technologies and innovations in the construction industry, and also to examine the problems and difficulties confronting this vital sector. A significant number of local and foreign entrepreneurs in the construction field, together with professionals and experts in the industry, participated in this Colombo Symposium, where the chief guest was Minister of Finance, Ravi Karunanayake.’’
“One of the salient issues that came under active discussion was the grave shortage of trained technicians in the construction sector at present. This critical drawback impacted negatively on the trade and impeded the growth and forward-march of the industry as well as the economy. It should be especially noted that Sri Lanka needs around 20,000 trained technicians to handle construction work in the country during the next few years. In this backdrop, we held a lengthy discussion with the Finance Minister. As a result of these cordial talks with the Minister, he agreed to help us to train the technical personnel and entrust the task of accomplishing it to the Ceylon Institute of Builders. Accordingly, we will be launching this useful and productive vocational training program targeting the younger generation in due course. We deeply appreciate the support extended by Minister of Finance, Ravi Karunanayake for the greater good and overall progress of the construction industry in Sri Lanka,” Dr. Rohan Karunaratne further said.

CIOB is the premier body of builders and construction professionals in Sri Lanka. It was established in 1961 by a well-known group of engineers and builders. It is a non-profit organization dedicated towards the greater good and development of the construction industry.