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| Sunday, 5 May 2002 |
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International contractors in Sri Lanka for convention The International Federation of Asian and Western Pacific Contractors' Associations (IFAWPCA) Convention will be held for the first time in Sri Lanka from August 18 to 22. It is hosted by the National Construction Contractors Association of Sri Lanka (NCCASL). Themed 'Social responsibility in construction', the ceremonial sessions will be held at the BMICH while the technical sessions will be held at Colombo Hilton. The 32nd convention is expected to be attended by 350 delegates from 16 countries. The convention will have four technical papers and two country papers. The four technical papers will be presented by two locals and two foreign delegates from Japan and Korea. The IFAWPCA Secretary General Saliya Kaluarachchi said China, being a super-power, is interested in joining the association. It will be discussed at this year's convention, he added. Established in 1956 in Manila, Philippines, IFAWPCA recognises similar associations in the Asia-Pacific region. It has 30,000 members in 16 countries comprising Australia, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Guam, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Sri Lanka. The convention will bring together owners, chairmen and managing directors of large construction conglomerates. This will be an ideal opportunity to build useful and long-lasting links with the rest of the world. It will also be an opportunity to display Lankan talents with a view to exporting the local construction industry. The objectives and purposes of establishing IFAWPCA are bringing about closer contact, international fellowship and cooperation among the contractors in the countries and geographical areas in Asia and the Western Pacific, exchanging information on construction technology, developing and strengthening the relationship between the governments and the contractors with a view to finding mutually beneficial solutions to problems in accordance with the laws of the respective member countries and geographical areas and establishing cooperative working arrangements in furtherance of civil and building construction projects. The office bearers of IFAWPCA are Patrick Jayawardena (NCCASL) President, Tan Kian Hoon (Singapore Contractors Association Ltd.-SCAL) First Vice President, Dr Ping Kunawatsatit (Thai Contractors Association) Second Vice President, Saliya Kaluarachchi (NCCASL) Secretary General, Desmond Hill (SCAL) Pro-Secretary General, Felipe F. Cruz (Philippine Contractors Association Inc) Executive Director and Dr Roland B. Neo (SCAL) Rapporteur. There are 15 other board members. NCCASL was established in 1981 and has 4000 members at present. Speaking of the local construction industry, Kaluarachchi said that the industry conducts monthly meetings with Adviser to the Prime Minister R. Paskaralingam to discuss issues relevant to the construction industry. This has helped the industry to solve a lot of problems and has created a healthy dialogue between the industry and the government. |
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