Minimise Cost Overrun Using Sustainable Construction Materials in Sri Lankan Construction Industry

A successful construction project is determined when it is completed within the expected budget and time, ensuring the required levels of quality and safety. For a project to be successful, it is essential to plan properly and have a reliable monitoring system in place. Furthermore, the building construction sector has a negative impact on the environment by generating waste, increasing carbon emissions, polluting the air and water, and accelerating climate change. This study intends to investigate cost overrun prevention strategies in Sri Lanka using sustainable building materials. Accordingly, a mixed-method research approach was selected, and an e-based closed-ended questionnaire survey and semi-structured expert interviews were carried out to collect data from construction industry professionals. In the questionnaire survey, a total of 80 construction industry experts were selected from different job categories as the respondents, and 53 responses were received with a response rate of 66.25%. On the other hand, 10 construction professionals participated in the semi-structured interview. The study has identified 15 factors that significantly impact cost overrun in the Sri Lankan building construction sector based on the mean weight ratings. The study found that using sustainable alternatives to natural resources at a lower cost is preferable. The most workable solutions to control the identified critical factors were determined to be new policies for sustainable construction, new financial frameworks for importing sustainable materials, new construction methods and technologies associated with sustainable materials and controlling the monopoly of sustainable material suppliers or manufacturers

Strategies to Improve the Quality Parameter of Building Construction Projects in Sri Lanka

Construction industry is a booming industry in Sri Lanka. Influence by the construction industry to the society in terms of both socially and economically cannot be underestimated since its contribution is high. Since this is a highly widening industry lots of beginners are coming to the industry as both investors and contractors. Every contractor is keen on increasing their market share. So, maintain the quality of these project is highly important in the current market. Poor quality in construction affects its every stakeholder. Safety issues, losing the strength of the structure, not enhancing the required appearance and additional cost for rectification has been some major issues due poor quality in the industry. Therefore, this research carried out to investigate strategies to improve the Quality parameter of building construction projects in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, mixed method research approach was selected. Accordingly, questionnaire survey was revealed imposing quality practices effect the quality in building construction projects, training and development of workers effect the quality in building construction projects, involvement of skilled staff and labour effect the quality in building construction projects, lack of skilled staff and labour effect the quality in building construction projects, utilization of new technology effect the quality in building construction projects, and quality of materials effect the quality in building construction projects are the critical factors affect quality of building projects in Sri Lanka. Through the qualitative approach it was recommended suitable practical solutions to control the above identified critical factors