A top Sri Lankan politician has questioned the influx of foreign contractors and engineers when there is a capable workforce readily available in the country.
“Local engineers and contractors have now matured to a level of competence that they can undertake and complete projects to the same quality of any foreign contractor. We are now second to none in the world in this field. Many of our engineers are working in several countries and they are in the forefront of construction and engineering. I firmly believe that we should employee our engineers and contractors to do all our construction work in the country,” said Senior Minister Tissa Vitharana, in charge of scientific affairs, at the Construction Excellence Awards 2010 held in Colombo last week.
“There is belief that our people are incapable. This is another idea coming down from the colonial days. We must now change that thinking. The duty of our government is to change this situation to have our engineers and contractors to be able to handle the work here in this country,” he added.
National Construction Association of Sri Lanka President Priyantha Perera said, “the private sector is the engine of growth in any country. However the industry has suffered heavily in the recent past due to the policy of having public sector agencies or foreign contractors. Most of our small and medium sector contractors have suffered badly due to this policy. However the assurance of the President of infrastructure development related activities and to convert Sri Lanka into a global hub economy will see this sector in better times soon.”
At the ceremony, M.M.Constructions of Matale, M.C.Perera Contractors of Pilimathalawa, Weerasooriya Builders (Pvt) Ltd of Gampola, Ranjith Motors and Building Contractors of Polonnaruwa, Yasitha Enterprises of Kandy, Bandara Construction of Kalankuttiya, Kalana Constructions of Anuradhapura, Singhe Ruwan Construction of Dangedara, Galle, Trio Construction (Pvt) Ltd of Matara, K.E.S. Engineers (Pvt) Ltd of Kotikawatta, E. A. N. A. Peiris Construction of Pelgahatenna, Debadda, Paramahansa Construction of Ella, D. A. P. Builders of Kurunegala, Sajeeni Builders of Alawwa, R. P. Jayaratne Contractors of Bandarakoswatta, Mahinda Contractors of Kurunegala, K. E. P. Construction of Pelmadulla, Oshadi Construction of Deraniyagala and Gavic Engineering (Pvt) Ltd of Wattala were rewarded for excellence.
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