Yasangika Gayani Sandanayake

The construction industry is a major consumer of natural resources, creating increasing pressure for sustainable material utilisation. Timber, as a renewable construction material with favourable environmental characteristics, offers significant potential to support circular economy practices within the built environment. However, the effective application of circular economy strategies for timber utilisation remains limited in many developing construction contexts, specifically in Sri Lanka. This study investigates how circular economy strategies can be converged to enhance sustainable timber usage in the Sri Lankan construction industry. A qualitative research approach was adopted, using semi-structured expert interviews with 12 professionals with expertise in the research area. The collected data were analysed using qualitative content analysis to identify circular economy strategies relevant to sustainable timber utilisation. The analysis identified thirteen circular economy strategies that can support sustainable timber usage across the timber lifecycle. These include reclaimed timber utilisation, design for disassembly, prefabricated construction, lifecycle assessment-based design, materials passports and digital traceability, industrial symbiosis, modular thinking, circular public procurement, stakeholder education, commercial plantation regeneration, preservation and treatment for prolonged use, and engineered timber promotion. The findings indicate that the convergence of these strategies can improve timber lifecycle performance, enhance resource efficiency, and strengthen sustainable timber supply systems. Effective implementation requires alignment between design practices, supply chain transparency, industry awareness, and supportive policy mechanisms. The study contributes to circular construction research and provides practical insights to advance sustainable timber utilisation in the Sri Lankan construction industry.

Logistics operations challenges in Off-Site Construction (OSC) trigger Supply Chain Vulnerabilities (SCVs), highlighting the need for a better understanding of appropriate Withstanding Measures (WMs). Existing research often lacks an integrated mechanism to systematically map SCVs and WMs. This limits decision-makers’ ability to understand interdependencies and prioritise responses effectively. As a result, there is a need for a visualisation model which also provides structured analysis of the relationships between SCVs and WMs. Therefore, this paper focused on developing a Three-Dimensional (3D) visualisation model to map SCVs and their corresponding WMs. Initially, a narrative literature review approach was employed to identify the SCVs in OSC and their relationships with WMs. A total of 30 papers were s selected through structured screening using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Total of 73 SCVs and 98 WMs both across six thematic categories were identified. Based on the outcome of the literature review, the model was developed using CodeSandbox web development platform. The findings reveal that the integration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) into Building Information Modelling (BIM) enables the mitigation of the highest number of SCVs. However, 61.64% of the identified SCVs are addressed by only a single WM, indicating limited exploration of WMs in these areas. Therefore, this study offers a novel contribution by developing a 3D visualisation model, addressing a critical gap in both relational mapping and visual decision-support in OSC Supply Chain (SC) logistics.

Purpose: Understanding and addressing the causes and root causes of inevitable conflicts is essential for conflict management in Construction Joint Ventures (CJVs). However, there is a lack of research identifying these causes, root causes and conflict management approaches in different stages of a CJV's lifecycle. Therefore, this paper presents a framework to manage conflicts during the inception, formation and operational stages of CJVs in infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative multiple case study approach was employed to investigate four CJV infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka, selected through purposive sampling. During the case studies, data were gathered through multiple sources, including eight in-depth interviews with senior project managers and document reviews. The collected data were analysed using content analysis and the root cause analysis tool, Five-Whys analysis. Findings: Findings are mapped into a framework suggesting a structured approach to conflict management, emphasising the importance of proactive and reactive approaches for addressing causes and root causes across CJV's lifecycle. Conflicts at the inception stage are minimal due to limited interaction between partners; however, selecting a suitable CJV partner is crucial. During the formation and operational stages, disagreements are often managed through negotiation as a reactive approach, while the root causes of these disagreements can be addressed through suitable proactive approaches, such as entering into an all-inclusive CJV contract agreement. Originality/value: This study proposes a conflict management framework for infrastructure CJVs uncovering the underlying root causes of conflicts, along with relevant proactive and reactive conflict management approaches at different stages of the lifecycle in CJV projects in Sri Lanka.

The increased frequency and intensity of disasters in Sri Lanka has significantly affected the sub-contractors in Sri Lankan construction industry especially during managing disaster related claims due to their inferior contractual position and limited resources. The past research has not comprehensively investigated the difficulties faced by sub-contractors in managing disaster related claims. Therefore, this research is aimed to investigate the key challenges faced by sub-contractors in managing disaster-related claims in the Sri Lankan construction industry in order to provide best practices to minimise the difficulties in managing such claims in future. This research followed qualitative research approach, and the data collection was done using semi-structured interviews with 20 experts selected through snowball sampling. The collected data were analysed through manual and code-based content analysis using NVivo software. The findings revealed that the sub-contractors experience numerous challenges due to inadequate documentation, limited financial and human resources, difficulties in evaluating claims, problematic relationships with main contractors, legal issues, and limited knowledge about claim procedures. Finally, the research proposed best practices such as structured claim documentation procedures, initial disaster planning methods, training programmes, improved contractual clarity on force majeure events, collaborative relationship with stakeholders, and use of digital tools, to manage the disaster related claims.

The construction industry plays a critical role in economic and social development but continues to face challenges such as inefficiencies, cost and time overruns, and client dissatisfaction. Lean Construction has emerged as a promising philosophy aimed at minimising waste and maximising value in construction processes. However, widespread adoption remains hindered by barriers such as resistance to change and resource limitations. Integrating Lean Construction principles into Business Models (BM)s referred to as Construction Business Models (CBMs) presents a strategic opportunity to enhance productivity and optimise value creation. Hence there is research gap in construction industry this paper aims to analys the literature on Lean Construction, BMs, and their integration within the construction industry to bridge this research gap. To address this, a systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted, examining publications from databases such as Scopus and Taylor & Francis. Using targeted search terms, 75 documents were initially retrieved, and after filtering, 61 publications were selected for comprehensive analysis. This study explores the integration of Lean Construction within BMs to optimise value in construction projects, offering insights into strategic frameworks that can overcome current inefficiencies. By examining Lean Business Models (LBMs) and their application in construction, the paper contributes to a deeper understanding of how lean principles can drive sustainable business innovation and operational efficiency within the industry.

The recent economic crisis in Sri Lanka has had a devastating impact on each economic sector, and the construction sector is no exception. Hence, the Sri Lankan government has entered into an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to perform an economic reform programme to uplift the country from its insolvent position. However, there is a lack of studies on the impact of economic reforms on the construction industry. Hence, this research aims to identify the impacts of the current economic reform programme of the Sri Lankan government on the construction sector. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to understand the economic crisis, the economic reform programme and its impact on Sri Lanka. Further, under the qualitative research approach, 20 semi-structured interviews were conducted with the experts in the construction sector selected through purposive sampling. The collected data was analysed through code-based content analysis using N-Vivo software and manual content analysis. According to the findings, import restrictions, increased material prices and fuel shortages were highlighted as the major challenges faced by the industry, which led to project terminations, staff turnover, increased construction costs, and bankruptcies. Further, IMF programme objectives such as restoring macro economy, ensuring debt sustainability, establishing export-driven economy and emphasising anti-corruption are appreciated by the experts while highlighting the need for more objectives to be included in future revisions. . Findings of this study can be utilised by the government to improve its reform programme in future to safeguard the construction industry.

The Business Model (BM) has become a distinctive feature that guides enterprises in fighting against challenges and navigating toward success. Construction organisations also face challenges due to expanding project scopes, increasing project participants, external factors and tight budgets. Hence, innovating BMs to keep up with the changing market and retain the competitive edge is essential. In this context, the stakeholders play a vital role in Business Model Innovation (BMI). There is therefore a need to investigate the role of stakeholder in BMI. Hence, this paper investigates the role of stakeholders in BMI in Sri Lankan construction organisations. This research gap was addressed using a literature review followed by in-depth semi-structured interviews with 20 experts using the qualitative research approach. Collected data were analysed through content analysis. Findings revealed that stakeholder engagement in BMI is led by the mutual benefits gained by all parties while creating a win-win situation. Semi-structured interview findings revealed that government, shareholders, clients, Board of Directors (BoDs) and management significantly influence BMI, while stakeholders such as employees, sub-contractors, competitors, financial providers and material suppliers possess a moderate influence. As per the interview findings, shareholders provide capital and foster innovation, BoDs/top management make final decisions after evaluating all suggestions, middle and low-level managers execute BMIs and guide subordinates, clients shape BMs to fit project needs, and the government influences BMIs through regulations. In conclusion, the stakeholders in construction industry can use the research findings in developing BMIs and implementing them successfully.

The migration of skilled professionals, commonly referred to as “brain drain,” has a significant impact on labour-intensive sectors, notably the construction industry. In Sri Lanka, this trend has intensified, particularly amid the current economic crisis, creating significant challenges for the industry’s workforce stability and long-term sustainability. Although brain drain has been widely studied in other Sri Lankan industries, there remains a lack of research specifically addressing the construction sector. This study aims to bridge this gap by analysing the outflow of construction professionals through a qualitative research approach, including a comprehensive literature review and semi-structured interviews conducted with both migrated construction professionals and local construction company owners. Findings indicate a substantial escalation in brain drain since 2020, linked to various organizational, industry-wide, and national-level push and pull factors. Key drivers include the economic crisis as a principal push factor, alongside attractive salary packages offered by host countries acting as a major pull factor. By highlighting these dynamics, this research contributes to the existing knowledge base, equipping stakeholders with actionable insights to develop strategies for retaining professionals. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for future research on the impacts of brain drain and proposes the development of guidelines to mitigate its adverse effects on the Sri Lankan construction industry.

Lean construction (LC) is a strategic concept for eliminating non-value-added activities and striving to increase value delivery in the construction industry. However, various barriers hinder its widespread adoption. To overcome these obstacles, Business Models (BMs) could offer a potential solution to facilitate and enhance the integration of lean principles in the sector. However, there are lack of a study examining how the integration of BMs can minimise the barriers to lean implementation. Therefore, this paper reviews whether can lean construction implementation barriers be minimised through business models in the construction industry. This aim was achieved through a systematic literature review (SLR). An SLR was conducted to identify key themes, trends, and gaps in the existing research. The findings reveal a growing interest in LC and BMs, with a significant increase in publications since the early 2000. The analysis identifies leading countries, research areas, and key keywords in the field. BM publications are concentrated in the United States, China, and Europe, while LC research is more globally distributed. The keyword "barrier" is most prominent, followed by “lean mplementation” and “performance” in “lean construction” research. The central theme of the “business model” connects to concepts like “lean start-up” and “lean management”, highlighting the integration of lean principles focused on efficiency and waste reduction. Overall, the research provides valuable insights into the interplay between LC and BMs, offering guidance for researchers and practitioners striving to increase value delivery in the construction industry

Industrial Symbiosis (IS) has obtained worldwide concern as a new initiative for achieving collaborative benefits through the exchange of resources including water among industries. Even though these initiatives became prominent as successful projects in the early stages, many of them have resulted in failures in the long term due to the absence of the prior evaluation and optimisation of identified water synergies in IS planning. Further, the main attention has been given to achieving cost reductions in individual plants rather than analysing the environmental benefits of IS networks that can be achieved through the maximum recovery of wastewater. The existing evaluation emphasises the need to have a standardised way to assess the optimum water flow of IS. Thus, the purpose is to conceptualise a model to assess the optimum water flow of IS based on secondary data analysis. A desk study and a detailed literature review were selected as suitable methods for reviewing the existing literature relating to water exchange in IS networks, water input and output flow, and optimisation methodologies. As the key findings derived through analysis, water inputs and outputs, a boundary for the selection of industrial entities, typical water synergies, and optimisation formulas were established. Finally, a conceptual model was developed to assess the optimum water flow of IS, which was evaluated through expert interviews to identify further improvements. The developed model forms a unique foundation for assessing the optimum water flow of IS, applying in any context subject to context-specific enhancements. Most importantly, the novelty can be highlighted as the consideration given to maximum wastewater recovery in achieving the reduction in the freshwater utilisation of industrial entities within the IS network. Nevertheless, this conceptual model is still at its early development stage, and it is subjected to more empirical testing and research for its practicality and further refinement as a way forward for the research.