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Kegalle Bypass Completed in Record Time by Maga Engineering

Sri Lanka’s leading construction firm, Maga Engineering (Pvt) Ltd., has completed the Kegalle Bypass road within 06 months and ahead of schedule.

Kegalla bypass

The 2 lane 2.34 kilometers road way project was commissioned by the Road Development Authority project and is valued at Rs. 1.98 billion. Construction was completed in 170 days and handed over to the client Road Development Authority.

The Road Development Authority had awarded the project to design, rehabilitate and upgrade the new by-pass road, along with widening of the existing road which connects the new road to Vidyalaya Junction, Kegalle. The scope of work included site cleaning, earth-removing work, surface regulation, asphalt-laying and surfacing, drainage and shoulder, culvert bridge construction and other structures.

"As the leader in the construction sector, we considered it essential to complete this project as early as possible, to hand it over to the public at earliest and to reduce the heavy traffic congestion around Kegalle town. In addition to delivering improved efficiency to the public, the speedy and effective implementation also delivered significant savings to Maga. This is a key focus area of the Company; to reduce wastage and deliver improved efficiency at the same great quality and the Kegalle by-pass project serves as another example of Maga’s commitment,” said Chairman & Managing Director M. G. Kularatne. He further thanked all personnel involved in delivering the project.

The project was implemented amidst great challenges such as daily traffic movement and unpredictable weather. Despite the challenging schedule and aggressive work done, Maga’s quality, safety and environment management won numerous commendations from the Road Development Authority. The company holds ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001, making Maga the first ever Sri Lankan construction company to receive both certificates. Also Maga holds the distinction of being the only construction firm to receive Platinum rating for Corporate Accountability, including many awards and accolades for industry excellence.

Maga holds its construction forum

  • Engineering forum

Colombo, 13th August 2013: Sri Lanka’s leading construction firm, Maga Engineering, hosted its inaugural Engineering and Construction Forum in Colombo last week. The session was a meeting point for over 325 managers, engineers and key staff of the Company in an effort to promote the exchange of new ideas and trends whilst discussing the future potential of the construction industry. The development of key infrastructure, and the company and industry’s role in supporting the development drive of the state was one of the key areas of discussion at the forum.

The Chief Guest at the occasion was the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Mr Ajith Nivaard Cabraal, who stated that the construction sector was crutcial for the government to achieve its development goals. “The last three years have witnessed the fastest-ever economic growth we have seen in Sri Lanka. We are on track to reach our target of USD 4,000 per capita income by 2016, and this is the outcome of concerted development programms we have implemented in the areas of ports, aviation, commerce and energy under the Mahinda Chinthanaya. This growing economic activity has been mirrored by the construction industry,” Cabraal stated.

Professor Ananda Jayawardena, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa and the Guest of Honour at the occasion, pointed to opportunities outside Sri Lanka. “The construction sector must seek to establish its presence outside of Sri Lanka,” he stated. This will bring foreign exchange into the country and ensure the industry’s long-term sustenance, as the exponential growth seen at present is to slow down in the future.

Maga’s Engineering and Construction Forum was held at The Waters Edge amidst a large gathering of its Board of Directors, Senior Managers, Engineers and key staff from all over the island. The company’s Chairman and Managing Director, M. G. Kularatne, paid a glowing tribute to his staff at the occasion, praising them for their efforts which have positioned Maga at the helm of the construction industry in Sri Lanka. He further stated that the future of the company will be safe in their hands, whilst calling for an organisational rejuvenation to manage new challenges that lay ahead.

Maga Engineering (Pvt) Ltd is the only construction to be named a Business Superbrand in Sri Lanka, as well as be certified under both ISO 14001 and OHSAS18001 international HSE standard. Furthermore, the company is the only construction firm to receive Platinum rating in the country’s Corporate Accountability index, and has won over 60 national construction awards, as well as the National Business Excellence Award for the sector for the past 7 consecutive years.

Coming home to new beginnings – Housing for our heroes

  • api wenuwen api
The Ministry of Defence joins hands with Maga Engineering to provide homes for security forces personnel

As we progress as a nation, it is imperative that we do not forget its past and its people: We must not forget the countless opportunities lost and the cruelty of the three decade war and its impact on our people. We must grasp the prospects before us today and ensure that we create a future that leaves no room for their recurrence. As Sri Lanka sets foot on this journey towards accelerated and sustainable development, we envisage a future that provides social and economic security and equality for every segment of our society. Even as we ensure not to repeat those mistakes of the past, it is also important that we do not forget the men and women who consecrated their lives to make this moment in history a reality. Thousands of armed forces personnel gave life and limb to bring a lasting peace to Sri Lanka to end a conflict which saw no bounds. Much are the stories of hardship and struggle to make ends meet; of responsibility towards their family, their future alongside the safety and integrity of their motherland. As the guns go silent, and rightfully so, we mustn’t forget the invaluable sacrifice and commitment of these heroic men and women. Thousands who have been rendered disabled in battle and many more who have known no other duty than to defend their motherland now go back to begin life in quarters unknown.

Housing is a critical issue faced by many of the servicemen and women, having had received little or no opportunity during the war to establish homes for them and family. Disabled service personnel have special needs and also need care, which often come difficult in a traditional housing structure. To pay tribute to these men and women who have given selflessly to their nation, the Ministry of Defence under its ‘Api Wenuwen Api’ programme launched a scheme to provide housing for long-serving and disabled soldiers of the tri-forces. This unique programme affords service personnel owning a land to apply for a facility whereby the Ministry will provide housing for the selected applicants. A part of this project (which is currently in its second stage) was carried out by the Army’s Engineering Corps together with Maga Engineering, Sri Lanka’s flagship engineering and construction company. In its second phase, which encompasses the Colombo district, Maga Engineering has constructed 26 houses for service personnel in the Homagama, Padukka, Athurugiriya and surrounding areas at a cost of Rs. 100 million to the company.

The scheme is open to all service personnel of the armed forces who have served not less than 15 years in the tri-forces and that too in conflict areas. They must also possess land, but are unable or lack the means to construct a house for themselves. Priority is given to personnel who have served for longer periods with the forces and for those who have become disabled due to the war. Once an application is made through the relevant serviceman’s Regimental Commander, the details of the application is assessed by the army headquarter together with the Ministry of Defence before granting approval to proceed with construction.

With the commission of the programme, Maga Engineering set about identifying the locations and demographics of the houses. Each housing unit consists of approximately 900 square feet and includes three bedrooms in addition to the living, dining and a bathroom. The company has used modern fittings and facilities in the completion of these units and placed build quality and design at the top of its criteria as it does with all its landmark constructions around the island.

Chairman & Managing Director of Maga, M. G. Kularathna, said: “Sri Lanka is currently on an accelerated path of development and our lives and landscapes are constantly evolving. We owe this important juncture in our history to our armed forces, who for nearly three decades laid down their lives to bring about a lasting peace to our nation. These 26 residential units we constructed for war heroes together with the Ministry of Defence are part of our effort to pay tribute to their heroic effort and contribution.”

“At Maga our Corporate Social Responsibility is found on the ethos of economic and social equity, of providing opportunity to all segments of our society and bringing them closer and making them a part of the national development drive. This serves as a fundamental of all our projects island wide. Our contribution to the ‘Api Wenuwen Api’ programme is a significant part of this process. There are close to 10,000 disabled soldiers in the island, and we must take every effort to ensure we engage them and provide the necessary tools to make them part of this process. We thank the Ministry of Defence lead by Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa for carrying out this noble venture. The vision of the ‘Api Wenuwen Api’ programme runs parallel to our ethos of social inclusion and empowerment and we are confident that together we will build a conducive platform for sustained economic and social development,” he added.

These three bed-roomed units offer up to 900 square feet of space. The Project Manager of the housing programme from Maga Engineering said there were several difficulties that had to be overcome, including access to lands and material storage. Some of the lands were in marshy areas and had to be extensively filled prior to construction. Maga’s focus was always centered on the quality of construction. Furthermore, the company will also maintain these housing units for a defects-liability period of one year.

Petty Officer Abhayarathne of the Sri Lanka Navy is one such beneficiary under this unique housing programme. Having served 22 years in the Navy out of which 12 years had been on the battlefront, Abhayarathne, a father of three explained that the various difficulties faced by them had prevented them from constructing a house. He added that his son had undergone numerous surgeries due to an illness, and he was grateful to the Ministry of Defence and Maga Engineering for coming forward to assist him with his housing need. “We are extremely grateful to the Ministry of Defence headed by Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and to Maga Engineering lead by Captain M. G. Kularatne for affording this opportunity for me and my family and providing us a home to live in. It was extremely difficult for us to progress with our lives and even our livelihoods without a proper home, and we were staying with relatives. This gives us a new lease of life and a foundation to move forward.”

Of the 26 houses constructed by Maga, 14 unites were received by members of the Sri Lanka Army, 7 by the Airforce and the rest by the Sri Lanka Navy.

Interview with Chairman & Managing Director of Maga Engineering (Pvt) Ltd, M. G. Kularatne

(Sunday Times : 16 June 2013)

By Duruthu Edirimuni Chandrasekera

MAGA Engineering, establishing its position as Sri Lanka’s market leader in construction, has from infrastructure development projects to metropolitan high-rises made an indelible imprint as a model construction company in the country. Capt. M.G. Kularatne, Chairman and Managing Director, in this interview with the Business Times at his simple-down-to-earth office at Nawala explains how the company’s construction business has set standards for the construction industry.

Unlike other successful businessmen, the veteran builder and contractor does not use a mobile phone.
Excerpts of the interview:

On the company beginnings:

I worked as an administrator for a few Japanese companies in the mid ’70. At these companies I learnt about construction management, the related issues and procedures in this business. I decided to set up a construction company which resembled (in terms of work ethics) a Japanese company in 1983, starting with a small capital and invited my brother and then a friend to join in. At the time I was still attached to the Japanese company and my brother helped me set it up.

Was 1983 (ethnic riots in July which shattered the economy) a good time to start?

It was not a good time to start. The open economic policies had been in force for six years by then and by 1984 there was a lot of competition.

What projects did you start initially?

In the beginning we did sub-contracting for international contractors. We did the first contract which was a 3-storey building for National Building Research Organization. We completed it four months ahead of schedule and this was our success story, as the word went around about us completing this project before time. Also it was said that this is a systematic company with good housekeeping. This opened the doors for us to do other projects with main contractors.

What are the other projects you set out to do after this initial success?

In 1993 we started constructing the 155 room, 5-star Eden Hotel and completed it in 1994. This was followed by four more hotels – Taj Exotica, Lighthouse, Sinbad Garden and two high-end hotels in the Maldives. This is left our indelible imprint in the industry.

What advice have you got for present day contractors?

There are some contractors who can do a decent job within the given timeframe. But a great majority has still to learn planning, organizing and managing the projects. They should resort to build stable and reliable organizations. The foremost thing is the discipline. Discipline is important for a person to succeed.

How has MAGA’s growth trajectory been?

Throughout our career, we have had growth except for one year – 1997/98. This was because during that time the industry was stagnant.

How has the industry performed post – war?

It has accelerated more than 20 per cent in growth after the war.

What has your strategy been?

Our core business strategy has always been to provide quality construction products and services within the shortest possible time – and at the most competitive prices. These facets are underscored by exceptional quality and remarkable after-sales services. The organization has earned itself an enviable reputation in the industry for speedy construction of buildings, roads, bridges, water-supply and drainage facilities, and marine structures. It also possesses the largest capacity in terms of volume – providing total construction solutions from concept to conclusion.

Why are you low key/low profile?

It’s better to be that way; there’s less disturbance and distractions. We don’t utilize traditional mass media to advertise our products and services. New construction contracts are secured through our competitiveness and oral and written recommendation from former clients who have been the company’s most vocal promoters providing valuable word – of – mouth publicity. This is a result of having satisfied their requirements beyond expectations with timely delivery, exceptional quality and impeccable after-sales service.

Why aren’t you getting into other sectors?

We want to specialize in what we do best. We plough 90 per cent of the profits back to the business.

This has helped us acquire the plant and machinery required for large construction projects from reputable international suppliers and it successfully built up a dynamic and dedicated team armed with the necessary knowledge and experience to offer world-class standards. It is the company’s dedication to high quality and its depth of experience that has enabled MAGA to secure some of the most prestigious construction projects in Sri Lanka.

What are your staff numbers?

MAGA has a dedicated workforce of over 6000, led by a team of professionals, and over 150 graduate engineers and other technical staff. They are an incredible team

http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130616/business-times/contractors-should-be-more-disciplined-magas-kularatne-48236.html