Lafarge partners ICTAD for capacity building of construction craftsmen

Wednesday, 17 September 2014 00:13 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Institute for Construction Training and Development (ICTAD) and Lafarge Mahaweli Cement Ltd. (Lafarge) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop skill levels and competencies of masons in housing construction, in order to meet the required standards for sustainable construction practices on a pilot basis.

The MoU was executed at the ICTAD Head Office at Savsiripaya, Colombo 07, officiated by Lafarge Managing Director Anurag Kak and ICTAD Director General Archt. H.K. Balachandra. In line with ICTAD’s effort to maintain standards for the construction industry, as the sole government regulation body in the construction sector, Lafarge has implemented this program as an extension of its mission to build better cities. It was arranged by Lafarge, to provide professional training for masons, enabling them to receive National Vocational Level Certificates through ICTAD. Lafarge will ensure that the masons so trained, be promoted as customers of the respective banks who are currently partnered with the company, to provide loans under their ‘affordable housing scheme’. In accomplishing the purpose of the program, a pilot project was implemented for a random group of masons selected from the districts of Gampaha and Colombo, whom have undergone a training conducted by experts from ICTAD while Lafarge has facilitated the training program. Based on the successful implementation of this pilot project, it has been agreed in principle, by the parties to extend the training program to national level.