Building Specifiers Conference 2017 in Colombo on 31 January

The Colombo School of Construction Technology (CSCT), Sri Lanka and Showcraft International Ltd., Sri Lanka, associated with Futurex Trade Fair and Events Ltd., India, announced the upcoming conference under the umbrella of Building Specifiers Conference 2017. 

It is to be held on 31 January at Cinnamon Grand, Colombo. The event is supported by JAT Holdings Ltd. and Alumex PLC as the title sponsors.

This conference will provide construction professionals and policy makers a platform for open discussion on the importance of specification and implementation of the same.  The objective behind this event is to bring forth the view points of all the experts including specifiers with respect to the need for the right specifications to ensure quality buildings in Sri Lanka. 

The highlight of the conference will be What are specifications, why are they important, are there different kind of specifications, who should be involved in writing specifications, what could go wrong with a specification; specification and estimation for achieving global standards in construction projects and value addition; specification writing for civil construction; the importance of specifying in the construction projects; pitfalls encountered in project management due to incorrect specifications; uses of specification specifying techniques, specification coordination, guidance and operative procedure, types of specifications available internationally.

Special guests for the day will be Minister of Megapolis and Western Development Champika Ranawaka, Megapolis and Western Development Ministry Secretary Eng. N. Rupasinghe, Ministry of Housing and Plantation Infrastructure Secretary W.D. Ailapperuma, Dr. Michael E. Joachim from the Construction Industry Development Authority (CIDA) and Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) Director General/CEO T.G. Gamini Dharmawardana. 

The eminent invitee list will include the representatives from Construction Industry Development Authority (CIDA), Ministry for Megapolis and Western Development, Urban Development Authority (UDA), Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA), Society of Structural Engineers (SSESL), Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB), the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL), Institute of Quantity Surveyors (IQSL), and builders, developers and contractors fraternity.

This conference is open for all the architects, engineers, project managers, quantity surveyors, builders, developers, contractors and academies.

As per Minister Ranawaka, “The building specifiers’ concerns will help the nation to build beautiful and smart buildings which will cost effective, quality oriented, faster and sustainable.”

“I am sure the Building Specifiers Conference will enhance the value system of building and it will improve the quality and efficiency of the construction industry,” said Deshabandu Archt. Surath Wickramasinghe, President of the Chamber of Construction Industry.

“When specifiers of the building are not specifying the product, they leave the chances to others to play on the price band and then the cheapest of the product wins. A good building has to be appropriately specified,” said Vidiyajothi Archt. Prof. Lakshman Alwis, Chairman of Design Consortium Ltd.

Archt. Harsha Fernando President, Sri Lanka Institute of Architects, said: “The hardest part of the building is to arrive at a consistent specification and much of the building’s essence is the specification. It is important to have a Building Specifiers Conference for our industry.”

Aelian Gunawardene, Managing Director, JAT Holdings Ltd., added: “We at JAT are honoured to be the title sponsor of this well-timed initiative to elevate the Sri Lankan construction industry to world-class standards. I am personally pleased that when I discussed the necessity of this project with Prof. Chitra Weddikkara and Prem Anvesi, they agreed and took this idea and made it a reality. Correct specifications can make or break a project, especially in an environment like in Sri Lanka, where the industry is flooded with many inferior alternatives. The availability of good and accurate specifications will act as a powerful tool to architects, designers and clients to ensure a superior and timely project delivery.”

The organiser of this conference and past President Archt. Prof Chitra Weddikkara, Dean Colombo School of Construction Technology, said: “It’s a great effort to bring building specifiers together it will increase the awareness of specification and quality in the architectural and construction industry.” 

Prem Anveshi, Managing Director of Showcraft International, shared: “We are delighted to see the kind of response we received from the industry towards bringing this subject to be discussed on a formal platform wherein the ideas can be exchanged freely. We took this idea to the construction fraternity and the key bodies involved into standardisation and specifications; this conference is the outcome of those discussions on table. We look forward to the continuous support of the companies and the specifiers. We invite all the professionals to attend this conference for the benefit of the industry.”