Future infrastructure development must be guided by research and innovation: Deputy Minister

Colombo, July 10 (Daily Mirror) - Future infrastructure development in Sri Lanka should be guided by research, innovation and science-based solutions to safeguard the country's forests, rivers, wetlands and coastal ecosystems while meeting national development goals, Environment Deputy Minister Anton Jayakody said today.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the 14th World Construction Symposium (WCS 2026) at the Hilton Colombo, the he said sustainable development must remain at the centre of the country's construction agenda.

The symposium is jointly organised by the Ceylon Institute of Builders (CIOB) and the Building Economics and Management Research Unit (BEMRU) of the University of Moratuwa.

Deputy Minister said the construction industry, while serving as a key driver of economic growth and employment, also has a significant responsibility to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources, reduce carbon emissions and protect biodiversity.

He highlighted that the industry should transition beyond conventional infrastructure development towards a regenerative construction culture that enhances climate resilience and protects ecosystems.

The symposium brings together local and international researchers, academics and industry professionals to discuss the latest developments in sustainable construction, including the circular economy, green building materials, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Digital Twin technologies.

The two-day event, which began today, features parallel technical sessions and research presentations by local and international scholars and will conclude tomorrow (11).