The introduction of Thermo-Mechanically Treated (TMT) bars in place of TOR steel for the construction industry will reduce the cost of construction by 10 per cent. This product will greatly benefit construction contractors and home builders, Engineering Services and Construction Minister Rajitha Senaratne said at the inauguration ceremony of the Excon Fair on construction industry held at BMICH recently.

Minister Senaratne said that the Chamber of Construction Industry was extremely helpful to organize trade fairs on the construction industry and the chamber had continuously endeavoured to find solutions to the problems in the industry. As and alternative to river sand used by the construction industry, the CCI had introduced manufactured sand. This pioneering effort was a hallmark in the industry and arrangements were made by him to rehabilitate the plant and machinery owned by Devco Showa and transformed it into a commercial viable entity.

He said that this new enterprise would venture into the production of rock sand which would be introduced to the domestic market. When used in concrete, rock sand would result in saving on the cost of cement needed. The use of rock sand would protect the environment by reducing the dependence on river sand for building purposes.

Minister Senaratne added that the construction industry was faced with an acute shortage of cement. Even though this situation had eased gradually, the global situation of supply and demand and the cement shortages in the future could not be ruled out due to difficulties in importing cement. The global demand for cement had been increasing rapidly due to hectic construction activities in other countries.

He said that on the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa he had taken action to re-activate the KKS cement factory which remained closed since 1990. In collaboration with an Indian industrial conglomerate the KKS cement factory would be able to supply adequate cement to the needs of the construction industry. The project would also save valuable foreign exchange.

Minister Senaratne outlined that the construction craftmen training was of vital importance to countries like Sri Lanka as the construction industry in Sri Lanka had seen new vistas. It was the policy of the Construction Ministry to encourage domestic contractors and consultants to achieve required quality standards and effectively engage in construction activities in foreign countries.

Referring to the stumbling-blocks faced by the construction industry, Minister Seneratne said that he would intervene to remove them through a mechanism to increase the contribution of the construction industry to the GDP from present level of 7.4 per cent to at least to 15 per cent .