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Over 6,000 construction workers sans livelihood: National Construction Association of Sri Lanka

16 Mar 2022

  • Construction Association Chair blames costs of raw materials and bad management 
BY Buddhika Samaraweera  The National Construction Association of Sri Lanka (NCASL) has claimed that more than 600,000 workers have lost their livelihoods due to the collapse of the construction industry caused by the rise in prices of cement and other raw materials. Addressing a media briefing yesterday (15), NCASL Chairman Susantha Liyanaarachchi said: “More than 1.2 million workers belonging to the lowest economic strata of society are employed in the construction industry. However, with the collapse of the construction industry by 50% due to the crisis situation, more than 600,000 of them have lost their livelihoods.” He said that the main reason for the massive collapse of the construction sector was the rising prices of raw materials, including that of cement. “A tonne of steel which was Rs. 288,000 has now risen to Rs. 300,000. Even the steel that had previously been paid for has to be bought at new prices now. In addition, cement prices rose by Rs. 100 in January, Rs. 125 in February, and Rs. 350 this month. Accordingly, the new price of a bag of cement is Rs. 1,900. When the raw material prices are going up in this manner, how can we afford to buy them?” he queried. He also said that despite a huge publicity stunt to open a new cement factory in Hambantota, not a single bag of cement has been released to the market from the said factory so far. Liyanaarachchi further claimed that the main reason for the collapse of the construction industry at a time of great economic crisis in the country was the lack of management by the relevant authorities. On an earlier occasion, he claimed that there was an acute shortage of cement for the construction industry. Due to the serious shortage of US dollar reserves in the country at present, many imports including those of raw material needed for the construction industry have been hampered. Furthermore, people are seen waiting in long queues near hardware shops to buy cement and other such material needed for constructions these days.


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