Category Archives: News & Press

MAGA honoured with five National Construction Awards for 2019

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  • Mar2020-MAGA honoured with five National Construction Awards for 2019 (1)

The Company has now won 94 awards at Sri Lanka’s premier construction awards competition

Maga Engineering continued its winning streak at the National Awards for Construction, winning five accolades in 2019 that recognised the Company’s commitment to quality, reliability, timely delivery, and sustainable building practices. The award ceremony organised by the Construction Industry Development Authority (CIDA) was held on 25 February 2020 at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. Hon. Indika Anuruddha, State Minister of Housing Facilities graced the occasion as chief guest.

MAGA’s industry-leading Clearpoint Residencies won the National Green Excellence Award, while Fairway Elements won a National Construction Excellence award. Fairway Galle and Orwell Residencies were recognised with National Construction Merit Awards, and the Sri Lanka Karting Circuit Bandaragama received a National Performance Award.

Clearpoint is the tallest vertical garden in the world, and Sri Lanka’s highest-rated green building. The property’s signature feature, its planted terraces, encircle the building creating green cover that provides natural cooling and reduced air-conditioning. Large solar panels power common areas and systems, whilst rainwater is harvested and used with recycled grey water for flushing and drip-irrigation for gardening. The building’s coordinated waste management provides revenue toward building maintenance.

Fairway Elements is a 40-storey modern residential complex built with best-in-class industry practices. Living areas are designed to blend seamlessly with spacious outdoor terraces that maximise space, light, and views of surrounding wetlands. The property also includes rainwater harvesting facilities, and double-glazed uPVC windows coupled with energy-efficient lighting to reduce maintenance costs.

Fairway Galle consists of two 15-storey residential towers that capture the vibe of one of Sri Lanka’s favourite coastal-holiday destinations. The complex provides residents with a holiday home and lifestyle amenities such as swimming pools, indoor and outdoor gymnasiums, clubhouses, tennis courts, squash courts, jogging tracks, activity rooms, kids play areas, and vast landscaped gardens. Celebrated for its outstanding quality and design, Fairway Galle was also recognised at the Asia Pacific Property Awards.

Orwell Residencies is a 26-storey luxury residential complex that overlooks the Colombo skyline and majestic Indian Ocean. Located in a busy central location of Colombo 03, Orwell Residencies is the epitome of a modern apartment complex in a busy city: taking maximum use of its footprint to create a building that is spacious, sleek, and extremely functional.

Sri Lanka Karting Circuit at Bandaragama is the brainchild of visionary motorsport enthusiast, Mr David Pieris, and lauded as the finest karting track in Asia. MAGA undertook extensions and improvements to the Karting Circuit, bringing it up to international standards that would allow Sri Lanka to host events such as the IAME X30 Asia Cup.

Aster Residencies opens doors in Nugegoda

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Aster Residencies (Pvt) Ltd completed construction of its flagship residential project, handing over brand new apartments to residents, many of whom are first-time homeowners. The complex has been designed to offer true affordability and trusted quality for people seeking upscale apartment living, consisting of modern amenities and high-quality finishes, coupled with quick access to Colombo city. The condominium project is a joint venture between Aster Residencies (Pvt) Ltd and Maga Engineering, Sri Lanka’s largest construction company.

Aster has a mix of 2 and 3-bedroom units, and features 50 apartments across 10 residential floors. The complex is replete with a large swimming pool, kids’ pool and play area, and a modern gymnasium. The rooftop features modern recreational spaces, including an open-air BBQ pit for social events.

Located on the border of Colombo City, Nugegoda is an ideal choice for those seeking convenience and easy access to workplaces, schools, and a bourgeoning social landscape with eateries and retail experiences. Head of Sales at Aster Residencies (Pvt) Ltd, Mr Tuan Fawaz said “Along with MAGA’s reputation for trusted build quality, location was a key driver in the success of Aster Residencies, where 80% of apartments have already been sold. We invite buyers who dream of owning a quality apartment close to Colombo to visit our property, step into a model apartment and witness the project first-hand.”

Apartment amenities are of the highest quality, and furnished by world renowned brands. Aster has partnered with Daikin for air conditioning, Häfele for kitchenware, Schneider for electricals, and Siemens for fire-detection. All apartments are air-conditioned, offer hot and cold water, gas systems with individual meters, reliable fire protection and alarm systems, and high-speed broadband/entertainment connectivity. The complex also includes service balconies, separate maid’s rooms and washrooms, differently-abled access, drivers’ restrooms, and a fire command centre. The complex also provides 24-hour security and CCTV monitoring.

Prospective buyers can reach Aster Residencies on 077 009 9933 and arrange an apartment viewing.

Maga Engineering trains 228 craftspersons in the construction sector

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228 craftspersons trained by Maga Engineering in 11 construction industry related occupations were awarded NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) certificates at an award ceremony held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute at the end of 2019.

Secretary of the Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational Training Mr. K. D. N. Ranjith Asoka was the Chief Guest at the occasion and Ms. Manjula Amarasinghe, Acting Country Director of ADB, was the Guest of Honour. Among the dignitaries were representatives from the Ministry of Industry & Commerce, Skill Sector Development Programme (SSDP), Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC), and the Asian Development Bank.

Addressing the gathering, Chairman and Managing Director of Maga Engineering, Mr. M. G. Kularatne said “Today the construction industry is facing an acute skilled manpower shortage and this is a great step in the right direction to resolve that issue. MAGA believes it is essential to foster workforce skills whilst ensuring training matches the demands of the industry. In turn, this will allow workers and businesses to adopt new technologies and prepare the industry for meaningful change.” He thanked the Ministry of Industry & Commerce and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for their unwavering support as implementing and funding partners of this programme.

Chief Guest and Secretary to the Ministry Mr. K. D. N. Ranjith Asoka reiterated those remarks: “As Sri Lanka is looking to accelerate economic growth, this is a need of the hour, and the Ministry aims to expand this programme to meet the demands of the industry. Moreover, as someone who knew Maga almost from inception, it is a pleasure to witness the company’s growth and contribution to the construction sector and youth development.”

MAGA is a registered Training Institute with the TVEC, under the Ministry of Skill Development and Vocational Training. The newly trained craftsmen received certifications for NVQ levels 2, 3, and 4 in 11 occupations: Construction Craftsman (Masonry), Bar Bender, Wood Craftsman (Building), Tiler, Scaffolder, Road Construction Craftsman, Road Construction Site Equipment Operator, Welder, Laboratory Assistant, Occupational Health and Safety Officer, and Wood Craftsman (Building).

Sharing his joy and sense of accomplishment, a recipient of the NVQ certificate, Mr. Michael Niroshan, who completed NVQ level 3 in ‘Construction Craftsman: Masonry’, said “I followed the course at Maga’s site at Dadella Beach Hotel, Galle., and as a result, today I have got the opportunity to become a masonry subcontractor – an entrepreneur leading a team of 48 masons and able to earn a good income”.

During her speech, Guest of Honour and Acting Country Director of ADB, Ms. Manjula Amarasinghe described how the ELTP programme was initiated six years ago, resulting in over 6200 persons trained and currently working in almost all sectors of the economy.  Reiterating ADB’s commitment to support such programmes in the future, Ms. Amarasinghe noted the need to make the programme more inclusive, attract more female candidates, and work toward bridging the gender gap.

The training programme is designed with the prime objective of catering to the evolving needs of the industry, while bridging the skills and knowledge gaps of construction craftspersons. To serve this purpose, Maga Engineering has formulated a customised training curriculum, prioritising on-the-job training sessions and offering trainees both theoretical and practical knowledge. Participants are screened based on their aptitude and competence and selected candidates are trained at Maga’s construction projects under the guidance of experienced and qualified resource personnel.

Maga Engineering has trained over 500 skilled craftspersons over the last four years under several youth development programs such as the above.

Sri Lanka’s tallest A-grade office complex, MAGA ONE achieves full occupancy

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MAGA ONE, Sri Lanka’s tallest A-grade office complex developed by the Country’s largest construction company, Maga Engineering, has reached full occupancy within its first year of operations, making it the leading choice for global and local corporates.

A testament to MAGA ONE’s unmatched offering, the building is now home to multinational giants such as Chevron, Pearson, AkzoNobel, Wiley Global, and Wabtec Corporation, together with trailblazing Sri Lankan startups such as eMarketingEye and Digital Mobility Lanka. The latter is behind Sri Lanka’s fastest growing and largest ride-hailing service (PickMe).

Standing at 33 floors, the building is a state-of-the-art, purpose-built business tower with an array of modern, sustainable features, which is strategically located in Colombo 05, between Sri Lanka’s central business district and administrative capital Sri Jayawardenapura, Kotte.

The office complex has been built with Universal Design principles, comprehensively addressing the needs of tenants, customers, and people with diverse abilities: this holistic approach has been adopted in its environment, technologies, and processes. A perfect blend of aesthetics and functionality, MAGA ONE offers world-class corporate amenities designed to international standards, incorporating high quality finishes, advanced technologies, and smart, multi-functional work spaces that facilitate efficient interior fit-outs. The building also comprises a restaurant, entertainment zones, and innovative public spaces, whilst a gymnasium will soon be added.

With high-speed elevators, decentralised climate control and advanced lighting systems, MAGA ONE’s high-tech building management system provides flexibility and ensures optimum energy efficiency. All of the above resulted in the property being recognised at the Asia Property Awards 2018 as the Best Office Complex and the Best Green Development.

Commenting on its success, Chairman and Managing Director of Maga Engineering Mr. M. G. Kularatne stated “we are delighted to reach full occupancy at MAGA ONE, a one-of-a-kind property that offers our tenants the perfect blend of office amenities, word class technology, and ultimate convenience. MAGA ONE has been an exciting project since inception, and we take pride in achieving this milestone; a testament to the hard work that went into creating a benchmark in Sri Lanka’s commercial space. Moreover, we were able to deliver on our promise to create a minimalist yet sophisticated building that fits well within the character of Colombo city.”

“Despite challenging economic conditions and being a new entrant in the market, MAGA ONE stood as the preferred choice amongst competing commercial properties, as we offered value to our tenants beyond a typical office space” noted the Head of Sales & Marketing of Maga Engineering, Mr. Tuan Fawaz. “Furthermore, in the face of multiple security concerns that prevailed in the past months, we responded swiftly with heightened security features, offering our tenants absolute peace of mind to excel in their work.”

The complex was designed and built by Maga’s in-house teams in partnership with architect OENS Design Studio. Maga Engineering has successfully delivered over 500 multidisciplinary projects in Sri Lanka and overseas, building a diverse portfolio of work in real estate, transport, water supply, healthcare, leisure, and commercial sectors.