The local construction industry is facing a shortage of skilled employees, primarily those with undergraduate degrees, according to Surath Wickramasinghe, President of the Chamber of Construction Industry of Sri Lanka. This is despite the construction industry offering benefits in excess of other professions. Speaking at the recent launch of BuildSL 2013, the national construction industry [...]

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Major skills shortage in SL construction industry

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The local construction industry is facing a shortage of skilled employees, primarily those with undergraduate degrees, according to Surath Wickramasinghe, President of the Chamber of Construction Industry of Sri Lanka. This is despite the construction industry offering benefits in excess of other professions.

Speaking at the recent launch of BuildSL 2013, the national construction industry exhibition and trade fair, which will be held at Sri Lanka’s BMICH in May 2013, Mr. Wickramasinghe also suggested that the country’s Ministry of Higher Education put in place a training programme, so that a 1,000 advanced level students, not being offered places at public universities, may be trained and absorbed into the local construction industry.

He also identified some skilled positions which were currently highly in demand, including “construction professionals such as Service Engineers, Quantity Surveyors, Project Managers and Construction Managers and several other technically skilled personnel such as Electricians, Plumbers, Masons and Fabricators”.

Further, Mr. Wickramasinghe also signalled the need for an Infrastructure Development Fund in Sri Lanka (IDFSL) in order to ‘fast-track’ Infrastructure Development in Sri Lanka. He noted that the chamber he represented had already put this idea across to the government during pre-budget consultations.

He also added that “most of the mega-infrastructure projects in the country over the past few years have been undertaken by foreign consultants and contractors with funds from their own countries. The projects have gone to them because they have come with money. Today, the situation is different; the private sector, both foreign and local, would like to invest in an Infrastructure Development Fund in Sri Lanka. “In India, we all know, a similar fund has helped to speed up the transformation of their major cities. Of course, other countries like Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Singapore are other success stories with their own development Fund,” he said.

At the budget proposal meeting (with the Treasury), he said they requested that the establishment of the IDFSL be included in the Budget 2013. “If so, we are confident that within a short period, with innovative structuring to attract substantial investment from the construction industry, banks, the public, local and overseas institutional and other investors, it will have the potential to reach US$ 200 million and more thereafter. Consequently, it will be a catalyst to ‘fast track’ infrastructure projects in all parts of Sri Lanka.

The benefits would be enormous enabling the upgrading of skills with new technology to be competitive with the best in Asia. Furthermore, the socioeconomic benefits would be many, since several thousands will have gainful employment opportunities in different disciplines allied to the construction industry,” he added

At the same time, Mr. Wickramasinghe also indicated that Budget 2013 should also have allocations which can be used to involve the private sector in large-scale urban regeneration projects. Elaborating, he stated that Rs. 50 million to Rs. 100 million be set aside as “seed capital to prepare bid proposals to cover the cost of outsourcing for the preparation of the valuation, templates of the concession agreements and also the shareholders agreements.

It is our view, that, if this information is available to the private sector developers, it is possible to ‘kick start’ two or three projects, similar to Slave Island. The benefits would be many as the government funding will not be necessary to re-locate the underserved settlements, while at the same time massive investment on the liberated prime land will pave the way to create a comprehensively planned environment, where both the public and the private sector new commercial and business activities could be integrated to accelerate the economic development in the city.”

Additionally, Mr. Wickramasinghe also asked the following question; “The question I would like to raise is whether our infrastructure is adequate? We are aware of the ADB Funded Colombo Sewerage Renewal Project and regarding the World Bank funded Metro Colombo Infrastructure Project, which will include the Rapid Transit Railway Network the work is to commence shortly. In addition, we [are required] to provide fibre optic cables, smart and green technology for the buildings, entertainment, leisure and recreation activities including one or two golf courses to complement the anticipated mega development and to attract foreign investment”.
(JH)




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