Fresh outlook necessary, says CCI chief

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

Sri Lanka must take a fresh look at the future and its policies and priorities if it is to be competitive with South Asia, Asia and other countries, said Chamber of Construction Industry (CCI), President and Architect Surath Wickramasinghe.

He was speaking at the inauguration of Excon 2009 at the BMICH on Friday.

He said that the country must be innovative and focus on environmental sustainability, improve its resource such as efficiency of water, waste management, alternative forms of energy and renewable energy sources, climate change and global warming, and plan for infrastructure expansion to support growth.

Wickramasinghe said that the Chamber was happy about the outcome of the recent discussion with Treasury Secretary Dr P.B. Jayasundera on the macro issues faced by the construction industry in promoting businesses.

One main issue is that the practice of foreign consultants and contractors being given the lead role in Government and Government aided projects while the local counterparts had to do a sub contracting role.

This should be changed the other way where the local consultants takes the lead role and mobilize any expertise if necessary from foreign sources, which will stabilize the confidence of local construction industrialists.The Chamber proposed that tenders be invited from local consultants and contractors with supplier finance to implement infrastructure projects in water supply, power, highways and IT infrastructure sectors.

The advantage of this system is that Tender Conditions will include the type of guarantees that the Government of Sri Lanka will provide wherever possible.

This will reduce the cost of infrastructure projects, he said.Wickramasinghe said that investing USD 40 million towards setting up an Infrastructure Development Fund for which the Government contributed USD 80 million is a huge challenge for the industry but is confident of mobilizing the same.

However, if this fund materializes mega projects of national importance could be initiated, he said.