Abstract:
The construction industry includes profusion of Subcontractors employed in various
projects. Moreover, a higher number of subcontractors have begun entering into the
industry due to ease of entry. However, all subcontractors might not possess the required
proficiency to fulfil client’s necessities. Thus, various issues have aroused due to lack of
proper subcontracting practices creating management of subcontractors in construction
industry in Sri Lanka essential.
The study incorporated interviews and questionnaire survey to derive at the aim of this
research which was to identifying the caused for disputes in subcontracts in the
construction industry in Sri Lanka and propose mitigation measures. Besides, to
understand the practice of subcontracting in construction industry and caused for possible
disputes, a literature synthesis followed by questionnaire survey and structured interviews
were executed. Similarly, literature synthesis assisted to identify causes for disputes in
subcontracts. Furthermore, preliminary investigation aided in validating the findings of the
literature synthesis while more issues and solutions were added by the interviewees.
Consequently issues and solutions were ranked through the questionnaire survey to
identify the most critical issue. Subsequently the mitigation measures were proposed to
overcome the disputes in subcontracts with the aid of the findings of literature synthesis,
interview and questionnaire survey.
Payment problems, coordination problems, lack of communication, quality issues,
scheduling conflicts, no form of subcontract prepared for Sri Lankan usage; no
compulsory subcontractor registration procedure; no practice of security of payment in Sri
Lanka are major issues. Mitigation measures were suggested o overcome disputes in
subcontracts by addressing the causes for disputes.
