Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated as the Chief Guest at the opening ceremony of the Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS) Congress 2026, held in Colombo on 24 August.
Hosted by the Institute of Quantity Surveyors Sri Lanka (IQSSL), the PAQS Congress 2026 is being held from 21 to 25 August under the theme “Constructing the Evolution: Unleashing Human Intelligence.” The congress brings together global thought leaders, professionals, academics, policymakers, innovators and industry partners to explore the future of the built environment in an increasingly technology-driven world.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya officially declared the PAQS Congress 2026 open.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister stated that, for any government, infrastructure is never simply about constructing physical assets. Rather, it is an instrument of national development, and decisions concerning infrastructure are fundamentally decisions about the future of our people.
“The infrastructure decisions we make today shape the opportunities, resilience and quality of life of future generations. Therefore, infrastructure development must be approached not merely as a matter of construction, but as a long-term investment in our country’s economic, social and environmental future,” she stated.
The Prime Minister highlighted the evolving role of Quantity Surveyors in this context.
“This is where the evolving role of Quantity Surveyors becomes particularly important. The profession has moved far beyond its traditional association with measurement and cost estimation. Today, Quantity Surveyors contribute to investment appraisal, feasibility assessment, cost planning, procurement strategy, contract administration, risk management, value engineering, commercial governance, sustainability, dispute avoidance and lifecycle cost management. This wider expertise is essential if governments are to make informed decisions about increasingly complex infrastructure investments,” she said.
She further emphasised that Sri Lanka’s future infrastructure development must be guided by sound policy, evidence and professional expertise, while making responsible and effective use of technology.
“As we look towards the future, Sri Lanka must ensure that our infrastructure development is guided by sound policy, supported by evidence, strengthened by professional expertise and enabled by the responsible use of technology. We must build not simply for today, but for the generations that will inherit the country we shape,” the Prime Minister said.
The event was attended by the Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply, Dr. Susil Ranasinghe, members of the PAQS Executive Committee, delegates, academics, industry professionals and other distinguished guests.
Prime Minister’s Media Division