Lankan contractors urge Govt. to allow Indian workers here
While infrastructure development projects are on the pipeline and many contracts have been already begun to kick in, Sri Lanka’s construction and engineering sector is facing a major crisis in finding skilled workers.
On one hand while there is shortage of skilled workers like masons, carpenters, etc with demand increasing, on the other hand no politician has raised this issue to provoke any state intervention.
This problem would result in the downfall of Sri Lanka’s construction and engineering sector in the long term if no proper measures are taken. The government must allow Indian workers to come to Sri Lanka to overcome the shortage, a proposal that could trigger opposition from opponents of the p roposed Economic and Te ch n o l o g y Cooperat i o n Agreement (ETCA).
This was revealed when the Business Times interviewed a group of officials from the construction and engineering sector in Sri Lanka on the sidelines of the ‘Lanka Infrastructure ‘16 Expo’ at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre in Colombo last Friday. Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau Chairman G. D. A Priyat i l a ke, Water Resources Board Chairman Zulfikar Cader and National Water Supply and Drainage Board Chairman K.A. Ansar were among the few officials present at the interview.
Mr. Cader said that while there is enough unskilled labour here, there is a shortage of semi-skilled workers (masons and carpenters) which requirement could be obtained from India.
Another official stated that today’s generation doesn’t want to become a mason, carpenter or farmer because of the social status of the job.
Madura Wijeyewickrema, CEO - Major Constructors of Sri Lanka, an association representing the construction industry, said there is no national strategy to make use of the youth gainfully. The lack of such a strategy to direct the youth in the right path is the root cause for the shortage of labour in the country. Agencies and policy makers should come together and implement this strategy and address the issue very soon.
Business Promoters and Partners Engineering ( Pvt) Ltd Chairman and Managing Director Gration Fernando emphasized that Sri Lanka has a demand for quantity surveyors where the country lacks in numbers. In West Asia there are around 1200 Sri Lankan quantity surveyors who control everything, earning millions. In Sri Lanka people are academically qualified but their basic knowledge is not great. It’s the lack of hands on experience on the job, he added.
The 3-day ‘Lanka Infrastructure ’ 16 Expo’ that took place for the first time in Sri Lanka last weekend (12-14th August) saw 150 exhibitors from 15 countries including pavilions from China, India, Malaysia, Taiwan and Singapore showcasing the latest in building, construction, water treatment, HVAC and electrical engineering technology and supplies.
Madura Wijeyewickrema, CEO - Major Constructors of Sri Lanka, an association representing the construction industry, said there is no national strategy to make use of the youth gainfully.