Sri Lanka cement shortage not sudden – Holcim
The existing shortage of cement is not a sudden one and it has been there for the last 24 to 36 months as cement suppliers in the region were really tight with the construction boom in the region, Managing Director Holcim Lanka Peter Spirig said.
He said that it cannot be called as a real scarcity because of the heavily increased landing cost of cement and the Government not allowing a price increase during the last one year made some importers stopping imports as they were unable to sustain with the high cost which resulted a real tight.
However, the Government understood this situation and it was decided to give the maximum supply but there won’t be any price increase at retail levels. Holcim Lanka also continues to use the maximum capacity in all the factories for sustainable development, Spirig said.
Director National Construction Association Sri Lanka, Ananda Weerasekara said the whole region is currently pushed for cement due to mainly the construction boom in China and India.
Earlier those countries exported cement and now they too have started importing cement which has affected the whole region. The earthquake in Indonesia recently has also delayed shipments putting local suppliers in crisis.
The NCASL has met the Minister of Constructions Rajitha Senaratne has held discussions and taken steps to protect the consumer from price increases and supply of cement. Published under Cement News
