USAID expresses interest in alternative dispute resolution in SL’s construction industry

In a recent meeting held with USAID officials, Ceylon Institute of Builders (CIOB) President Dr. Rohan Karunaratne stated that there is a vast quantity of unresolved disputes in the Sri Lankan construction industry. 

The SME sector cannot afford to undertake lengthy and costly legal procedures and have faced an unfortunate predicament. In this context, CIOB ventured to establish a mediation centre to provide services to the SME sector and supply chain stakeholders.

After attending the recently held Alternative Dispute Resolution conference in Hambantota, construction industry attendees gained clarity on ADR instead of following a conventional legal system, and that it was the most suitable system to cater to the needs of the Sri Lankan construction industry.

Dr. Karunaratne also explained that “some of our experts in mediation, Prof. Chitra Weddikara, Thilak Kolonne and Lalith Rathnayake have taken the lead in the commencement of the CIOB mediation centre. We thank Ruwan De Silva, Eng. Saliya Kaluarachchi and Malathi Piyasena for attending and providing assistance as well as USAID’s Sarani Gunathilake and Apsara De Silva for inviting us to their workshop aptly themed ‘express training on mediation’ outlining the establishment of a system and procedure for mediation. 

In earlier meeting, USAID has assured support for the CIOB mediation centre, training by foreign experts, and hopes to organise an awareness programme on Alternative Dispute Resolution.