Sri Lanka enters global construction industry

First project in Qatar next month:

Mohammed Naalir

Construction and Engineering Services Minister Rajitha Senaratne said the time is ripe for Sri Lanka to enter the international construction industry. The luxury housing project in Qatar is the initiative step, he said.

Nearly 1,600 persons including engineers, architects, surveyors and planners will leave for Qatar shortly, he said.

The project will be officially inaugurated in April.

According to statistics, 162 quantity surveyors in Qatar and 700 quantity surveyors in Dubai will be employed. There are 9,500 engineers and 700 designers are in Sri Lanka. Their contribution is vital for development, the Minister said.

On completion of this project, the State Engineering Corporation will gain a net profit of Rs. 4,000 million, Minister Senaratne added.

The Chamber of Construction Industry-Sri Lanka Chairman, Deshabandu Surath Wickramasinghe and Qatar Chamber of Construction Industry Deputy Chairman, Abdhul Aseez Al Emad signed the agreement at the Qatar Chamber of Commerce Head Quarters. Moves are also under way to construct 15,000 housing units in Qatar.

The Ministry, jointly with the State Engineering Corporation holds talks with Qatar authorities in this regard, Minister Senaratne added.