Construction industry needs national policy: President

Tuesday, 10 January 2017 00:50 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Maithripala Sirisena being presented with a ‘Green Building Code and Evaluation System’ by Megapolis and Western Development Ministry Secretary Nihal Rupasinghe and Mahaweli Development Environment Ministry Secretary Udaya R. Seneviratne

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday emphasised the need for a national construction policy in both the state and private sectors.

“Our country as a small island nation has to face many challenges due to rapid population growth. Many challenges have emerged due to the lack of a national policy on housing construction,” he said while speaking at the Green Building Code and Evaluation System launch in BMICH.

Going by the country’s present situation, he said Sri Lanka would have to face a number of challenges in the agriculture sector in the next 25-30 years, adding that this was due to the limited arable land available. The President pointed out that the country should unite to conserve fauna and flora and protect humanity.

As the first phase of the program for the greenization of the construction sector, Sri Lanka government buildings will be converted and maintained as eco-friendly buildings from 2017.

The green building guide and the green evaluation programs have been prepared by the Mahaweli Development and Environment Ministry and the Urban Development Authority, under the guidance of the Presidential Secretariat.

These publications were presented to the President by the Secretary of the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment, Udaya R. Seneviratne, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development, Nihal Rupasinghe.

President Sirisena launched a website on the green concept.

He stated that the engineers and the specialists in the construction sector were responsible for making this program a success by creating awareness among the people.

Ministers Patali Champika Ranawaka and Arjuna Ranatunga also participated in this event.