Number of constructions have ceased

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The government needs to pay 150 billion rupees to the construction industry for various projects, M. D. Paul, former Chairman at National Construction Association of Sri Lanka (NCASL), told the media yesterday.

The Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration had commenced a number of large scale projects, but payments had not been made for contractors., Paul said.

“Because of that we are in trouble. We have not been paid for 10 months and those involved in the projects are struggling to keep the businesses afloat. If the government does not have the money to pay us, it should talk to us and figure out a way out of this,” he said.

Meanwhile, Susantha Liyanaarachchi, Chairman of NCASL, said that the recent import restrictions have adversely affected the construction industry.

“The import of a number of items needed for the industry, from aluminum to water pipes, have been restricted. These are essential items for the industry,” he said.

Liyanaarachchi said that members of the NCASL has stopped 70% of the government contracts.He added that it was impossible to build at the current level of inflation.

“How can a regular person build anything with the rising costs? Its also had for us to give a quote because prices of goods are changing every day. Building a house has become a dream and without customers, we too are in trouble,” he said.