The Sri Lankan construction industry is being placed in jeopardy due to the amount of poor quality steel being used according to a report by industry experts. They claim that the influx of sub-standard steel comes from a steel mafia looking for profit over quality.

Experts claim that the poor quality steel leads to compromised standards and may also end up causing a danger to those who use the resulting buildings.

CEO/Secretary General, Chamber of Construction Industries, Dakshitha Thalagodapitiya said that there is a large number of steel manufacturers who use scrap metal with billets to manufacture iron rods. He commented “The use of inferior steel rods for construction can be disastrous for constructions. The Chamber has urged authorities to increase the number of raids and minimise the damage to the construction industry by the proliferation of sub standard steel products.”

Steel is one of the main materials used in the construction of high-rise buildings, so poor standards will only work to endanger the construction and use of these buildings.

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) seized a stock of sub standard steel rods from an Indian steel manufacturing company in Madampe, Chilaw. Around 110 steel bars were seized during the raid.