Quantity surveyors remit over Rs. 8.4 billion last year [February 17 2011]

Shirajiv Sirimane reports for Observer Online

Sri Lankan quantity surveyors working overseas remitted over Rs. 8.4 billion to the country last year. This is the highest amount of foreign remittances made by one particular Sri Lankan professional expatriates group to the country. President, Institute of Quantity Surveyors Sri Lanka, Prof. Chitra Weddikkara told the Observer Online that there are over 1,000 Sri Lanka quantity surveyors working in the Gulf region and they earn around two to three million rupees a month. “Sri Lankan quantity surveyors are also employed in Singapore and they have even higher returns,” she said.

Weddikkara added that in countries such as Australia, Libya and Tunisia, Sri Lankan quantity surveyors are in big demand. “Sri Lankans are highly, respected and the country can be proud of this fact.” She said that though the remittances put together by housemaids is higher, they do not reinvest in Sri Lanka. “In contrast, quantity surveyors have reinvested their money in the stock market, real estate sector, tourism and in industries as well”, she said.

She said that Sri Lanka will host the Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors annual global conference from July 25 to 27 in Colombo. The board meeting will be held on July 22 at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel. This year members from 14 countries - Australia, Canada, Japan, Myanmar, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Sri Lanka and South Africa would attend the event.