Challenges in sustainability practices in Sri Lankan construction industry

Abstract

Construction industry plays essential and effective role in the countries’ economic sectors. Nowadays most of the countries face the issues such as marked population growth, economic developments and advancements in technology. People build new buildings in natural biodiversity areas, however these types of human activities have created environmental problems. On the other hand, developed countries strictly follow sustainable construction practices. In Sri Lanka, the construction industry plays a major role in the countries’ economy. The Government of Sri Lanka focuses on the sustainable practices in construction industry. Moreover, sustainable practices in construction industry faces enamours of challenges such as unskilled workers’ knowledge shortages, complex contracting system, difficulties in implementing new ideas, lack of efforts and involvement from top management, client’s expectations, high price and long-time, local authority’s commitment and economic competitive. In addition to that, sustainable practices have been considered as the solutions for those challenges such as the awareness programmes about sustainable practices, improve information communication technology, to reduce the effects of cultural barriers introduce time and cost management programmes and top management sustainable efforts.