By Cocktails, Construction, and Controversy: Builders Weigh In on Sri Lanka’s Future
In a dimly lit lounge at a five-star hotel in Colombo, a group of Sri Lanka’s most influential construction magnates gathered for an evening of cocktails, camaraderie, and candid conversation. With glasses of whisky in hand, they dissected the state of their industry—rising material costs, project delays, and the uncertain economic climate—while exchanging knowing glances about the unwritten rules of doing business in Sri Lanka.
The conversation started on a hopeful note. The Central Bank’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for Construction signaled growth in December 2024, with activity levels holding steady at 51.4. While new orders remained neutral, there was an uptick in purchases, hinting at a sector slowly regaining momentum. Some at the table saw this as a sign that big projects could soon return, spurred by government infrastructure spending.
But optimism soon turned to concern. “Look, we all know the industry won’t survive on mid-size projects alone,” one executive murmured, swirling his drink. Another chimed in, lamenting that employment numbers were still shrinking, and the government needed to act fast to push large-scale developments.
A third voice, representing a younger generation of developers, was more bullish. He spoke excitedly about digital transformation, citing a recent industry event where Amicis Holdings and Autodesk showcased Building Information Modelling (BIM) as the future of efficient, sustainable construction. “Technology will fix inefficiencies,” he said confidently. “We just need to embrace it.”
Then came the dramatic twist. The conversation took a sharp turn when someone casually remarked, “At least we don’t have to pay as many bribes these days.” A few nodded in agreement, acknowledging that the government’s crackdown on corruption had made transactions cleaner and more predictable.
But not everyone was pleased. A seasoned contractor leaned back, exhaling heavily. “True, but let’s be honest,” he said, lowering his voice. “At least when bribes got things moving, we didn’t waste months on red tape. Now, everything takes forever.”
A knowing silence settled over the group. The new normal was proving to be a double-edged sword—a cleaner system, but a slower one. As the night wore on, the businessmen ordered another round, unsure whether progress was a blessing or just another hurdle to overcome.
