Thursday Oct 23, 2025
Thursday Oct 23, 2025
Thursday, 23 October 2025 01:24 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday said the Government is developing a national building code for Sri Lanka, with technical support from the World Bank.
He said the initiative aims to address long-standing gaps in the structural safety, quality, and regulation of construction activities across the country.
“These codes will cover the entire construction sector, including the structural integrity of buildings, fire safety, electrical and plumbing systems, energy efficiency, and disaster resilience,” Dr. Jayatissa said.
The World Bank Group has provided technical assistance to key agencies, including the National Building Research Organization (NBRO), in formulating the concept for the National Building Codes.
“In the absence of a national building code currently in force, Sri Lanka has faced serious issues relating to structural safety, quality, and regulation of the construction industry,” he said.
The preparation of climate-resilient national building codes was identified as one of the priority recommendations of the International Monetary Fund. The NBRO has already prepared a project proposal for the development of the codes, which the Cabinet has now approved.
Dr. Jayatissa noted that while a similar decision was taken by the Cabinet in April 2019, it could not be implemented at the time.
The new framework, once established, will introduce legally enforceable standards for the design, construction, maintenance, and alteration of buildings to ensure safety, health, and resilience against natural disasters.
