CCI President Deshabandu Dr. Wickramasinghe relinquishes helm after 16 fruitful years

Symbolic handing over of office of CCI President by Deshabandu Dr. Surath Wickramasinghe (Centre) to Eng. (Maj) Ranjith Gunatilleke as CCI CEO Eng. Nissanka Wijeratne (left) looks on

Chamber of Construction Industry Sri Lanka (CCI) held its 14th AGM at the Galle Face Hotel recently followed by a felicitation ceremony for outgoing Founder President of CCI Deshabandu Dr. Surath Wickramasinghe. 

The event comprising of a gala dinner, was well attended by many contemporaries of Dr. Wickramasinghe and amongst them were distinguished architects, academics, planners and many others in professional fields. After the AGM the CCI Affinity Master Credit Card through Sampath Bank was launched for the benefit of the CCI membership. 

Gracing the event were Chief Guest Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Minister of Special Assignments and Guest of Honour Professor Willie Mendis, former Vice Chancellor at University of Moratuwa. 

It was Dr. Wickramasinghe’s visionary zeal that gave birth to the Chamber of Construction Industry, Sri Lanka (CCI), in the year 2001. It was at a time when the country’s economy and the Construction Industry were at low ebb, and the construction industry was stagnant. It was evident that the construction industry could lend a boost to kick-start the economy.

Dr. Wickramasinghe saw the need of the hour and brought together all the stakeholders of the construction industry with a view to generate employment and revive the economy of the country. Hence, the Chamber of Construction Industry Sri Lanka came into being in 2001 to make representations to the Govt. as the apex representative of the construction industry, and now encompasses 13 related stakeholders under its umbrella. 

Deshabandu Ar. Plnr. Dr. Surath Wickramasinghe graduated from the University of Westminster, London and completed the Masters Degree in Town Planning at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. The University of Westminster in recognition of his achievements in Architecture & Planning, contribution to the Profession and the Construction Industry, conferred him an Honorary Doctorate. Locally, he was awarded the prestigious, SLIA Gold Medal for unique achievements and invaluable contributions to Architecture in Sri Lanka. 

Dr. Wickramasinghe is succeeded by Eng. (Maj) Ranjith Gunatilleke, CEng, B.Sc (Eng),  MIE(SL), MICE(Lond), MSSE(SL) who graduated from the Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya in 1976 and qualified as a Chartered Engineer in, 1979. He is a veteran in the construction industry and is also currently the Managing Director of Sanken Construction Ltd. 

It was a significant day for CCI Sri Lanka on 7 September, since it was a tribute to the leadership and yeoman service of its Founder President Dr. Wickramasinghe, who nursed and nurtured the CCI for 16 long years. Having brought it to maturity, he hands over the mantle to Eng. Ranjith Gunatilleke.