INSEE Cement, the country’s leading cement manufacturer extended its support through sponsoring the 11th International Conference on Sustainable Built Environment (ICSBE) 2020 which was jointly organised by the Engineering community of the University of Peradeniya, University of Moratuwa, University of Ruhuna and Open University of Sri Lanka.
This international conference, also branded as the ‘Kandy Conference’, and organised as a virtual 2 day event, proved to be an ideal platform and vibrant forum for the exchange of ideas, and the sharing of knowledge and experience. The event also provided the ideal forum for the dissemination of information about built environment among academics, professionals, and policymakers on management of the built environment globally.
Held annually, since December 2010, this year’s conference vision ‘to drive innovative research for tomorrow’s development’ collaborated with local and worldwide universities and research institutions with special sessions related to current concepts and practical ideas in sustainable built environment. Over 2500 local and international delegates including academics, researchers, engineers, industrial professionals and students participated. Featured during the event were six keynotes speeches, 13 special sessions, and two lively panel discussions.
Welcoming participants Prof. Ranjith Dissanayake, Conference Co-Chair stated, “Our aim for the conference is to share knowledge in the built sustainable environment, relevant and vital for us today. The Covid pandemic has also heightened the importance of the natural and built environment. This conference is a platform where so many experts have gathered to share their knowledge and innovation and many imminent researchers will present their papers and findings.”
In a message to participants, Chief Guest, Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, noted that introducing and maintaining a sustainable built environmental policy is one of the key focus areas of the Government in the journey of striving for a prosperous nation. Jan Kunigk, the Executive Vice President and Director Sales, Marketing and Innovation, INSEE Cement stated that “Construction has always been a fundamental element in human advancement. It is also one of humanity’s oldest businesses that continues to evolve and adapt to-date, especially with the rapid pace of population growth and urbanisation.” He opined that as resource-intensive industry, the company has been forced to be more innovative in its approach towards sustainability across its operations in order to meet the escalating demands and expectations of consumers and the country.
Elaborating further Kunigk noted, “Today, we have identified five mega trends across the world that are shaping the construction industry and our approach to re-imagining and delivering sustainable construction solutions. Along with these mega trends, we see the global cement and concrete demands continue to rise exponentially and unfortunately at a rate that we cannot sustain the natural resources,”
Providing an insight into the company’s role he stated that as Sri Lanka’s industry leader in construction and building material, INSEE Cement will continue to raise the bar for climate ambition as a corporate citizen, while also committing to accelerate transition as an industry to a zero-carbon built environment in the future.
In conclusion, he stated, “Let us play our part and provide some much-needed guidance by sending a clear message of the importance of building a resilient, thriving and sustainable economy for the future. It is important to work together, only one party alone cannot achieve it. I am sure this conference is one of the milestones that indicates we can achieve our goal together.”