CIOB seminar on survival of construction industry on Thursday

CIOB President Dr. Rohan Karunaratne

Prof. Chitra Weddikkara

Prof. A.K.W. Jayawardane

Dr. Saman Mahawatta

A CIOB conference organised under the theme ‘How shall construction industry stakeholders survive the turbulent year 2023?’ will be held on 16 February at 2:30 p.m. at the Galadari Hotel in Colombo.

During this conference, Dr. Saman Mahawatta, Civil Engineer, Chartered Quantity Surveyor, DGM, Maga Engineering Ltd., will deliver a lecture under the theme sustaining the industry and its workforce (with a case study on similar economic situations).

Meanwhile Prof. A.K.W. Jayawardane – Chairman, Commercial Bank, past President Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL), former Vice Chancellor University of Moratuwa informs the crowd under the theme ‘Debt restructuring to revive construction sector relationship with banks’. Sujeewa Mudalige, Chartered Accountant, Chief Executive Officer, P w C Sri Lanka will raise awareness under the topic ‘Management and debt sustainability of industry and financial institutions’ and Prof. Chitra Weddikkara – Chartered Architect, Chartered Quantity Surveyor Cost Engineer Mediator, Adjudicator and Project Manager will speak on ‘Review of outcome and expected framework for an industry solution’.

CIOB President Dr. Rohan Karunaratne explained the purpose of the conference and said: “Due to the stoppage of nearly 70% of projects and 100s of 1000s of jobs lost and around 4,000 construction companies having fallen, CIOB is organising this seminar to get industry inputs to complete our roadmap outlining the way forward for the year 2023, to be handed over to His Excellency the President, the Government, the Governor of the Central Bank and funding agencies. Surviving this period is crucial for construction companies so the aim is to receive expertise advice to negotiate this painfully turbulent year ahead. We hope this seminar shall be a timely and highly necessary seminar for the construction industry.