The Hon. Anton Jayakody - Deputy Minister of Environment

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, today we have the Second Reading debate on the National Building Research Institute Bill. This Bill converts the commonly used name “National Building Research Organization (NBRO)” to “National Building Research Institute (NBRI)”—changing “Organization” to “Institute.”

¶ 02 Why is this Bill so important? In the 1300s, Italy’s Leaning Tower of Pisa became a world wonder. It is considered a wonder not for technological prowess but because the ground rejected the structure—essentially, a geotechnical failure: building on unsuitable soil.

¶ 03 Sri Lanka has its own, less celebrated “wonder”: for 41 years the state body that does this crucial work—the National Building Research Organization—has operated without an Act. It began in 1984 under the then Prime Minister/Minister of Public Administration, Housing and Construction, by combining three labs to test construction materials to ensure stability of buildings and houses.

¶ 04 Today, the institution has grown significantly, with divisions for landslide studies and disaster risk management, geotechnical engineering to assess ground stability, materials testing, environmental studies, and structural quality under prevailing conditions.

¶ 05 Buildings can fail due to natural disasters like landslides; due to rejection by the ground if subsoil conditions are unsuitable; due to poor-quality materials; or due to structural design failures for local environmental conditions. NBRI addresses all these areas.

¶ 06 In the 1990s, major discussions on landslides led to a significant UN grant—about USD 1 million—focused on Badulla and Nuwara Eliya districts. Eventually, NBRO undertook mapping and risk assessment there. In 2007, with multiple disasters, the Disaster Management Centre was established and NBRO came under it; today the Centre functions under the Ministry of Defence. In 2011, the Government directed that geotechnical reports be provided for construction in hill areas via circulars. Much work has been done—but without an Act, reports have limited enforceability.

¶ 07 For 41 years, despite substantial work, there was no law. It is vital to legislate now.

¶ 08 The Bill largely strengthens regulation of landslide risk management. Landslides arise both naturally (soil and rock failures on slopes) and from human activity (cut slopes for construction and drains). There is correlation with rainfall: as rainfall increases, landslides increase. Saturated soils can gain significant additional weight due to water infiltration, increasing instability.

¶ 09 Sri Lanka has suffered major events: on 17 May 2003, with intense south‑west monsoon rains, around 256 lives were lost and major property damage occurred. Over recent years, around 850–900 lives have been lost due to such hazards. Operating without an Act is a serious weakness.

¶ 10 NBRI has installed about 350 automated rain gauges/water level gauges to collect data—more than even the Meteorology Department in some respects—and manages unstable sites to minimize landslide risk using JICA loans, other agency funds, and Treasury allocations. Yet, funds are not anchored by a dedicated Act.

¶ 11 Expansive soils in floodplain margins and elsewhere cause cracking and structural distress—seen in Hingurakgoda, Hambantota, Monaragala, Bibile, Puttalam. NBRI’s role is critical in investigating and advising on such conditions.

¶ 12 In addition, NBRI monitors atmospheric conditions and noise pollution, providing data to the Central Environmental Authority and regulators; it conducts extensive construction materials and structural testing, including for building on unstable ground.

¶ 13 After 41 years—almost a generation—this institution must be given a legal framework to regulate and support safe, sustainable construction for national development. Thank you.