Bringing together suppliers and service organisations in the building, construction, engineering and architecture industry, the ‘Construction Expo’ will be held on June 29-30 and July 1 at the BMICH.
Held for the seventh consecutive year, the expo will again showcase the best of what the industry has to offer. Highlighting the theme ‘Towards a Green Sri Lanka’, Construction Expo 2018 focuses on the green building evolution that is a fast evolving area of building practice.
While commending the substantial progress achieved in green building, the Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, Patali Champika Ranawaka said that 60 percent of the reclamation work related to the proposed financial city has been completed.
“We need to emphasize on obtaining green certification. Investors should realise the advantage of green buildings. Sri Lanka constructed the first green building in Kotte for the Environment Ministry. The country needs to take the green building and infrastructure norms to the next level,” he said.
Ceylon Institute of Builders President Dr. Rohan Karunaratne said, “Costs of construction in Sri Lanka is higher compared to other countries in the region.
This is mainly due to high labour cost, high cost of construction material and wastage. The best way to avoid unnecessary cost in the construction industry is to practice lean cost strategy. Lean construction practices are important to reduce cost,”
“We request the Minister to allocate at least 25 percent of the construction work to local construction companies. It is important to make the green certification mandatory to recognise green construction companies. Promoting a green Sri Lanka on a sustainability approach is a very important factor,” he said.
“This event showcases products and services that help the participants to interact with all the stakeholders and key service providers within the building and construction industry,” he said.
Dr. Karunaratne also said that apart from the local construction sector stakeholders, also expecting foreigners as well to setup stalls at the venue like previous years, which will be one of the striking features of the event. The construction industry specialists from China, Singapore, Malaysia, the UK and Japan will be exhibiting their latest trends and technologies as well.
At present the construction sector is picking up after going through a bad period. This major event would enable to promote and disseminate new trends and technology developments in the sector, he said..
A 50-member high-profile delegation, led by the Business Department of Liaoning Province and Shenyang Zhongqiao International Exhibition Co. Ltd, will arrive in Colombo to attend Construction Expo 2018.
A powerful group with large enterprises in the subordinate seven cities from the Liaoning Province will be showcasing construction materials, hardware fitting, ceramics, aluminum alloy material, and bedding at the event.
“Construction Expo 2018 will feature numerous concurrent and new events to supplement the main exhibition. Apart from the exhibition, seminars, discussions and meetings with foreign and local construction experts, which would enable local contractors to know and understand the trends and new technology available in the sector,” Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services (LECS) CEO Aasim Mukthar said.