Tokyo Cement hosted ‘Build Beyond 2026 Summit’, a premier knowledge-sharing conference that brought together leading academics, civil and structural engineering experts and professionals of the Sri Lankan construction industry. The event featured keynote addresses by renowned construction technology specialists, Professor Shashank Bishnoi from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi-Abu Dhabi, and Senior Professor Priyan Mendis from the University of Melbourne.
The summit marked the second edition of the Build Beyond Engineering Technology Summit organized by the Tokyo Cement Group, designed to foster collaboration between academia and industry while highlighting global trends, innovations, and emerging technologies in cement and concrete. This year’s discussions focused on advancements in material science that are driving more sustainable and cost-efficient construction practices.
The event drew participation from state-sector authorities, research institutions, academia, engineering students, and public and private sector organizations, creating a dynamic platform for engagement across the construction industry. A key feature of the summit was a high-level panel discussion on “Building a Resilient and Sustainable Construction Future,” featuring several distinguished industry leaders.
The panel included Eng. Nissanka Wijerathne, the Secretary General/CEO of the Chamber of Construction Industry Sri Lanka (CCI), Founder and Deputy Chairman of Civil & Structural Engineering Consultants (Pvt.) Ltd.; Eng. Shiromal Fernando, the Chairman of CTBUH Sri Lanka and Vice President of the Green Building Council Sri Lanka, Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defense University and visiting lecturer at the University of Moratuwa; Eng. Ananda Senarath, Fellow and Past President of the Society of Structural Engineers Sri Lanka (SSE-SL) and Council Member of the Association of Consulting Engineers Sri Lanka; and Dr. Rohan Karunaratne, President of the Ceylon Institute of Builders (CIOB) and the South Asian Lean Construction Association. The session was moderated by Professor Kushan Wijesundara, Head of the Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya.
Professor Shashank Bishnoi, from the Department of Civil Engineering – IIT Delhi, and Vice Provost of IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi, delivered two keynote presentations on low-carbon construction technologies. His first session, “Development and Use of Low Carbon Cements,” explored his work on Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) and the development of the LC3 standard adopted by the Bureau of Indian Standards. His second presentation, “Design and Application of Low Carbon Concretes,” addressed sustainable concrete solutions in relation to the Sri Lankan construction sector.
Senior Professor Priyan Mendis of the University of Melbourne delivered his keynote on “Net Zero: Materials to Novel Structural Applications.” He highlighted the role of high-performance concrete in improving durability, strength, and resistance to environmental stress in modern high-rise and large-scale structures. Drawing from international case studies, and his experience in serving several Australian and international standards committees related to concrete structures and structural loading, Professor Mendis shared insights from his involvement in the construction of iconic projects including the Burj Khalifa, Merdeka 118, Eureka Tower, and the Lotus Tower.
Representing the Tokyo Cement Group, Dr. M.G.M.U. Ismail, Director R&D, and Mr. Praveen Gnanam, Director Innovations, presented the company’s latest advancements in cement and concrete technologies, reinforcing its focus on sustainable and innovative construction solutions.
The summit reaffirmed Tokyo Cement Group’s commitment to strengthening the local construction industry through world-class knowledge-sharing initiatives and access to global expertise. As Sri Lanka’s largest manufacturer of cement, concrete, and cement-based innovative products, Tokyo Cement Group, has cemented its position as the leading partner in Nation-building with an unwavering focus on quality, innovation, and sustainability.
Caption: The panel discussion at the Build Beyond 2026 Summit featuring Eng. Ananda Senarath, Eng. Nissanka Wijerathne, Eng. Shiromal Fernando and Dr Rohan Karunaratne, moderated by Professor Kushan Wijesundara
