Maga, Sri Lanka’s biggest construction company, celebrates 30 years
One huge criterion of success more important than anything else is the correct identification of the value of human capital, and this is the success story of construction giant – Maga Engineering – which celebrates its 30th anniversary this month.At a media briefing held this week in Colombo, M.A. Kularatne, Chairman and MD, Maga spoke on the above fact and said that his company controls 30 per cent market share in the group of the top five construction companies in Sri Lanka and is an industry leader achieving multiple milestones in its career.
At this briefing the company also unveiled a new logo.
He said that they started very small in 1984 and with the commencement they had an energetic, creative and dedicated group of people to climb a difficult journey to success. Though they began small their thoughts were to become strong, the largest, and to be a dependable construction company that could maintain the highest quality in all aspects, with a set of good people to work with, Mr. Kularatne quipped.He said that theirs is not just a construction company, but a company that could make a difference to the sector and achieved by dedicated team spirit. He said that construction companies have lot of modern equipment, lot of money and lot of other things. But, he said that his company makes the difference in their people working together as a team. In 2010 they were awarded the construction of the 158 km Matara-Wellawaya highway, funded by the European Union and ADB, and its completion ahead of schedule, surprised the funding agencies resulting the company being commended by the EU Ambassador. He had said that there were 35 such construction projects in South Asia, but this is the only project that was completed before schedule, after the tsunami.
Mr. Kularatne said that they have completed more than 400 construction projects in Sri Lanka and abroad, and he emphasized that their quality of work is unparalleled to any other national or international construction projects.
With their dedicated team, he said that they were able to complete several hotels in the Southern coastal area, constructed the Apollo Hospital within 18 months, winning the hearts of all the directors and the developers.
He said that the company has 14,000 people working with more than 350 graduate engineers and over 4,500 other technical staff.
He said that their excellent work record has led to the company being hired to secure a share of the construction of the northern highway. Maga would be constructing the road from Kurunegala – 20.15 km. He said they are planning to look for overseas projects in the future.
Among the projects Maga has completed or nearing completion are: A-9 road, Jaffna Teaching Hospital, Kalladi Bridge, A-35 road, Northern Road Connectivity Project, Point Pedro Water Supply Project, Greater Kandy Water Supply Project and Hambantota Port Administrative Complex, Clearpoint Residences at Rajagiriya, NSBM Green University Town, 47 storey Grand Hyatt Colombo Hotel which will be the tallest building in Sri Lanka.
M. Piyadasa, CED, Maga said that the company made its presence in almost all the key areas in the construction industry and they have been recognized as the leader of the construction and engineering sector for six years by the National Chamber of Commerce.