Effect of COVID-19 on productivity of construction projects in Sri Lanka

Abstract

 The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the productivity of construction projects in Sri Lanka and other countries. Research initiatives are required to tackle this issue from the perspective of construction, given that this subject is relatively significant and that individuals are still working to come up with strategies to overcome the pandemic consequences. As a result, this study investigates how productivity fluctuations in Sri Lankan construction projects during the COVID-19 era can be managed. The study applied the Delphi method along with a quantitative methodology. Mean Rating and statistical analyses were used to analyse and validate the empirical data collected during the study. Absenteeism and interference were identified as the main factor that affected production. Other notable factors included prioritising safety over productivity, workforce reduction due to social distancing protocols, inspection and permit delays, and cash flow and payment challenges. Further, the study also discovered eight effective mitigation techniques to deal with production challenges in the construction industry during the pandemic. The findings, which highlight the synergy between the construction industry and productivity increase strategies during COVID 19, would be a useful reference for future studies due to the paucity of literature on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the construction industry in Sri Lanka. Overall, this investigation provides valuable insights into the factors affecting construction productivity during the pandemic and offers potential mitigation techniques for overcoming these challenges in Sri Lanka and other developing countries.