CCI calls for resumption of foreign worker visa scheme to avert post-cyclone reconstruction delays

By Nishel Fernando

CCI Secretary General and CEO Nissanka N. Wijeratne

The Chamber of Construction Industry of Sri Lanka (CCI) has urged the government to immediately resume the visa recommendation scheme for foreign workers, warning that the suspension of the facility could severely hamper the massive post-Ditwah cyclone reconstruction efforts scheduled for 2026.

In his New Year message, CCI Secretary General and CEO Nissanka N. Wijeratne highlighted that the construction sector is facing an acute shortage of skilled workers, professionals and technical supervisors. 
He noted that while the industry demonstrated a robust recovery with a significant growth of 12.2 percent in the third quarter of 2025, the momentum is now at risk due to labour supply constraints.

According to Wijeratne, the primary impediment to successful project execution in 2026 will be this labour deficit. He explained that relying solely on local training is insufficient, as training school leavers takes months and there is a notable reluctance among youth to enter the construction sector, compounded by an aging population.

To mitigate such shortages, the government had previously approved a scheme in 2019 to issue work visas based on the CCI recommendations. However, the Immigration and Emigration Department stopped accepting these applications on November 25, 2025, without providing a suitable alternative.

“This comes at a time when there will be a much-increased demand for foreign workers for cyclone-affected reconstruction work,” Wijeratne stated. 

He added that several construction companies have been left “high and dry”, unable to source the workforce needed to execute the undertaken contracts, which would likely lead to project delays.

The CCI cautioned that efficient delivery of development activities requires all ministries to focus on utilising budget allocations effectively, noting that the gross underutilisation of the 2025 capital works budget requires analysis and remedial measures.

The construction industry is bracing for a surge in demand driven by national initiatives for reconstruction following the Ditwah cyclone. A World Bank-led Global Rapid Post Disaster Damage Estimation (GRADE) has valued the damage to infrastructure and properties at US $ 4.1 billion (Rs.1,285 billion), which is approximately 4 percent of the country’s GDP. While the sector expects this trajectory to keep the industry in a high-growth phase throughout 2026, the capacity to meet this demand is heavily dependent on the availability of skilled labour.

In a signal of the industry’s continued activity despite these challenges, the CCI announced that its flagship event ‘Build SL Housing & Construction International Expo’ is scheduled to be held from May 22 to 24, 2026, at the BMICH.