Construction sector seeks execution of core relief proposals from Govt.

Steering committee to ensure delivery

- 

THE Sri Lankan construction industry has issued a renewed call to the Government, urging immediate implementation of long-delayed relief measures as the sector faces one of the deepest downturns in its history.

Industry leaders stress that these measures are urgently needed because, for a very long time, the Government has not approved the budget proposals already put forward by the industry. They warn that continued bureaucratic delays could lead to further collapse of businesses, job losses, and stalled national infrastructure projects.

Although the Government has recently launched several large-scale infrastructure projects, industry stakeholders argue that the benefits have flowed to only a handful of the biggest contractors. This concentration of work, and the ignorance of contractors’ requests to the Government has left the SME sector and smaller contractors—who form the backbone of the industry—struggling without opportunities due to banks blocking funds, stalled projects, lack of vehicles and people, etc., and in short all their resources have been blocked. Industry warns that without a fairer distribution of projects, thousands of smaller firms and their employees will be shut out of the recovery process, undermining the sector's long-term stability and diversity.