CIOB and UOM successfully conclude WCS2021

CIOB President Dr. Rohan Karunaratne

Chief Guest Prof. Ananda Jayawardena

WCS Chair Prof. Chitra Weddikkara

Ceylon Institute of Builders (CIOB), the premier professional organisation of building and construction professionals in Sri Lanka, successfully concluded their flagship venture, the 9th World Construction Symposium 2021 organised together with the University of Moratuwa with the theme ‘Reshaping Construction: Strategic, Structural & Cultural Transformation towards the Next Normal’.

The usual live symposiums were held in Colombo for eight times in the past, but this event was held on 9 and 10 July via Zoom due to the global pandemic situation. Instead of the three days planned originally, the symposium was cut short to two days.  

The event took place at the Nawaloka Auditorium with minimum 25 participants from the two organising institutions and the construction industry and the rest of the global and local participants joined via the zoom link. This symposium always provides an opportunity for the partakers to share their knowledge, new research findings and other developments in relation to Sustainable Built Environment in the construction industry.

Encouraged by the renowned successes of the first to eighth World Construction Symposiums, CIOB is planning for the ninth event with greater significance and impact on the local building and construction industry. 

Dr. Rohan Karunaratne said that over 50 research papers that were received from all over the world, were discussed, from which the best were selected and awarded certificates. 

WCS promotes international academic and institutional communities and receive over 50 research papers each year, introducing new technologies to Sri Lanka’s construction industry including: sustainability, energy management, procurement and integrated project delivery, multinational construction projects, construction practices, quality and productivity, new technologies, research law and dispute resolution in the development of sustainable construction, green and lean construction. 

He emphasised that these technologies are not largely avoided by the industry. Therefore, the Government and institutions like CIDA should seriously consider leading the way to implement these new technologies to Sri Lankan construction. 

WCS Chairperson Prof. Chitra Weddikkara welcomed the local and global academics and professionals participated representing the Construction Industry.

The symposium also had industry participation from both local and foreign stakeholders, with a view to covering a wider scope on research and development for the enhancement of sustainable construction in its deliberations.

Prof. A.K.W. Jayawardena joined as the Chief Guest of the Symposium stressed the point on conveying the industry based research and development findings and challenges of the industry to the respective authorities and the Government to implement development solutions.

Eng. Saliya Kaluarachchi read out the well wishes messages from Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and State Minister of Money and Capital Market and State Enterprise Reforms Ajith Nivard Cabraal.

Prof. Ioannis Brilakis and Prof. Steve Rowlinson were the keynote speakers of the WCS 2021 who joined via Zoom from their respective locations and delivered the keynote addresses representing foreign universities.

The panel discussion was headed by School of Engineering Design and Built Environment/Pro VC International Europe and UK, Western Sydney University, Australia Dean Prof. Mike Kagioglou; Ministry of Water Supply and Drainage Secretary and Colombo Port City Economic Commission Member Dr. Eng. Priyath Bandu Wickrmama; Liverpool John Moores University England, UK Construction Project Management Emeritus Prof. Andrew Ross; and Chamber of Construction Industry Sri Lanka Secretary General/CEO Eng. Nissanka Wijeratne.  World Construction Symposium Scientific Committee Chairman Prof. Yasangika Sandanayake concluding the event thanked all those who have joined as participants all over the world and supported as sponsors to make the event a success.

CIOB’s prestigious sponsors from the industry stakeholders had supported the event WCS2021 to carry on fruitfully. Siam City Cement (Lanka) Ltd. joined as the Main Sponsor and Nippon Paint Lanka Ltd., S-Lon Lanka Ltd. and Swisstek Aluminium joined as Event Sponsors while Tokyo Cement Group, Taian Lanka Steel Company Ltd., Sanken Construction Ltd., Nawaloka Construction Co. Ltd., AKK Engineers Ltd., Sripalie Contractors Ltd., Sierra Cables PLC, Venora International Projects Ltd., Frigi Engineering Services Ltd. and P. Jayamanna & Sons have joined as industry sponsors.