Policy gaps that deter fostering sustainable construction in Sri Lanka

Abstract

One of the guiding principles used for structuring the policy of construction in Sri Lanka is to ensure achieving sustainable development. Though the construction practitioners in Sri Lanka are aware of sustainable construction practices, there is lack of verification as to enthusiasm of the state policy that has been extended to this noble cause. A desk review was carried out to demystify the existing policy directions. A comprehensive literature survey was carried out to identify the drivers and barriers of its implementation. A structured questionnaire survey was conducted among 100 individual practitioners to gauge their perception and experience. 80 responses were received, 62 were considered valid for analysis. Data collected were then analyzed using the relative importance index. It was revealed that the key driver is end user requirements and the crucial barrier is lack of policies. Only 3 out of 17 dimensions have been at least superficially earmarked within the policy framework. The study suggests that the uptake of enhanced policies would indeed help in fostering sustainability. The outcome will be valuable for the government officials to formulate a policy that truly promotes strategic direction. This is the first local research on identifying policy gaps related to the subject arena.