CCISL catalogue released

by Elmo Leonard

The Construction Industry Trade Catalogue was put out for the first time last week. The booklet is said to be of much value to the trade, as it makes known the availability of materials, tools, equipment and the work which could not be undertaken to fit the needs of the consumer.

This norm is followed in the developed world, President, Chamber of Construction Industry of Sri Lanka (CCISL) Surath Wickramasinghe said, at its launch, citing Singapore and UK as examples.

Revaluations and possibly annual trade catalogues will be put out, comprising updates of what the industry will face.

The occasion also saw the launch of the construction industry craftsmen training program, in line with training 100,000 skilled personnel in masonry, carpentry, electrical work, plumbing and other technical fields conforming to the `Mahinda Chinthanaya' put out by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his run-up to the presidential election.

The training craftsmen program is being carried out by the construction industry in association with the Bioforce Development Institute of France.

An agreement was signed to establish a strategic alliance between the SMEs and the bank of the Chamber.

The event was graced by the advertisers amounting to over 350 business entities including 75 construction contractors. Also present were, heads of statutory agencies, representatives from key diplomatic missions in Colombo, heads of commercial and development banks and multilateral development agencies such as ADB, World Bank and OBIC.

Already three craftsmen training centres have been set up at Galle, Matara and Hambantota, Wickramasinghe said. During the year 2006 in review, the monthly CCI bulletin was published, and in the future, the cost of building material including sand will be included for reference by the public.

Excon 2007, CCISL's annual trade exhibition will be held from May 11 to 13, 2007.

CCISL also plans the establishment of a consultancy division in civil and mechanical engineering and in Financial Management. Consultancy will also be possible for obtaining cleaner production, which includes savings on energy and elimination of waste.

Also, CCISL in collaboration with The Occasional Education Commission and State Sector Training Providers plans to revitalise construction craftsmen training facilities with a targeted delivery of 25,000 craftsmen within a two-year period, Wickramasinghe said.

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