Govt. launches national initiative to establish Sri Lanka’s first National Building Code

Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) 

Sampath Thuyacontha 

The Defence Ministry and National Building Research Institute (NBRI) have initiated a landmark national initiative to formulate and establish the first-ever National Building Code of Sri Lanka (NBCSL), marking a significant step towards strengthening the safety, quality, sustainability, and disaster resilience of buildings across the country.

Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha chaired this meeting at the Defence Ministry yesterday in this regard, with the participation of senior officials of line institutes, including the NBRI, National Planning Department (NPD), Urban Development Authority (UDA), and Construction Industry Development Authority (CIDA).

The project proposal submitted by the NBRI to the NPD has been approved for the implementation of the project during 2026-2028 and followed by the Cabinet approval granted on 21 October 2025 (Ref. 25/1928/803/054) based on a Memorandum submitted by the President and Defence Minister. The implementation of the project is jointly managing by the NBRI, CIDA, and UDA with the consultation of all relevant stakeholders.

Sri Lanka currently does not have a single, legally established National Building Code. Building design and construction practices rely on a combination of international standards, including the International Building Code (IBC), Eurocodes, British Standards, and Indian Standards, together with various local regulations and sector-specific requirements. While these standards provide valuable technical guidance, their selective and sometimes combined applications may result in inconsistencies in design verification, approval, and enforcement.

The need for a nationally applicable code is particularly important given Sri Lanka’s exposure to floods, landslides, high winds, and other natural hazards, as well as its diverse climatic, geological, and environmental conditions. A code tailored to these national circumstances will provide a clear and consistent basis for safer design, construction, maintenance, and regulatory oversight.

The proposed NBCSL will establish a coherent national framework aligned with internationally recognised best practices while adapting requirements to Sri Lanka’s local conditions. It will address ten key technical areas, including structural safety, fire safety, sustainability, and universal accessibility, together with practical mechanisms for permitting, inspection, compliance, and enforcement.

The initiative has two complementary objectives: to consolidate Sri Lanka’s fragmented building regulatory environment into a unified national framework; and to establish the institutional and implementation mechanisms required for its consistent application nationwide. This will include clearly defined institutional responsibilities, approval and permitting procedures, inspection and enforcement arrangements, and capacity building for regulators and construction industry professionals.

The formulation process will be supported by extensive consultation with Government institutions, professional bodies, academia, the construction industry, and the public, ensuring that the Code is technically robust, nationally relevant, and practical to implement.

A qualified consulting firm will be selected through a competitive procurement process in accordance with National Procurement Agency Guidelines. The assignment is expected to be implemented over 24 months, culminating in the preparation and gazetting of the NBCSL. The initiative will be financed through the Consolidated Fund. 

“This initiative reflects the Government’s firm commitment to protecting lives and property through modern, science-based construction standards. A National Building Code is long overdue, and its development marks a significant step towards a safer and more resilient Sri Lanka.” 

The Defence Ministry and the NBRI has called for Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from qualified consultancy firms to undertake this nationally significant assignment.