Institutional-Repository, University of Moratuwa
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Recent Submissions
item: Thesis-Abstract
Evaluate the relationship pf parking volume with land use, urban density, capacity of the roads and accessibility in the Kurunegala MC area
(2026) Wedagedara, WGRK; De Silva, C
Countries like Sri Lanka is having a well urbanized were having huge traffic congestion even at the off-peak time. As per the City of Kurunegala Development Plan Prepared for 2021-2030, road density in Kurunegala city is similar to the road density of other developed countries. Since the public transportation system in the city is weak, many people tend to use their vehicles for daily traveling purposes and it causes high traffic in the peak time.
As knowledge was investigated, build-up form has a direct impact on the making of trips and mobility. However, most of the literature also found that making a new trip depends on factors of travel behavior such as travel demand and travel supply. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence using parking-based indicators in medium-sized Sri Lankan cities. According to the theory of accessibility, a trip is not normally an end in itself but more of a means to make another trip for the activity. Hence, it is clear that travel behavior in a particular area represents the real relationship between urban factors. The study examines the level of accessibility in the selected research study area by analyzing parking volume as a proxy indicator of vehicle-based spatial attraction, rather than as a direct measure of trip generation. Parking volume represents the concentration of vehicle arrivals attracted to a location due to its accessibility characteristics. To assess this relationship, key urban form factors namely capacity of road, land-use mix, and urban density are quantified for the selected sample locations. The analysis focuses on identifying how variations in this accessibility related urban parameters are associated with differences in measured parking volumes within the specific urban area. Based on the regression analysis, the accessibility index is the main factor that affects the parking volume and other measured indices like Capacity of Road index, Density index, and land use mix index have lower significance when compared to Accessibility. However, those independent factors and dependent factor were also related by 59.8% in regression model. Hence, the accessibility is the one of major factors to be considered in the urban planning and transport planning as a tool for their decision-making process as well as molding process.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Effectiveness of alternative dispute resolution methods in civil engineering contracts
(2026) Abeyratne, RMSD; Devapriya, K
The Construction industry is a key driver of national economic development. In Sri Lanka, the expansion of large-scale infrastructure projects many funded by foreign investors has intensified industry completion and increased the involvement of international contractors. Although theses development contribute significantly to economic growth, they also create complex contractual environments with multiple stakeholders, often leading to disputes related to quality, time and cost.
Civil Engineering projects are inherently complex due to their scale, technical requirements and the diversity of parties involved. When claims arise and remain unresolved, they frequently escalate into formal disputes and legal proceedings. Traditional litigation is often time consuming, costly and adversarial, potentially damaging professional relationship and delaying project completion. Therefore, the effectiveness of dispute resolution mechanisms plays a critical role in determining the success or failure of construction projects.
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods such as negotiation, mediation, Adjudication and Arbitration offer more efficient and flexible approaches for managing disputes in civil engineering contracts. Compared to Litigation, these mechanisms can reduce resolution time, minimize costs and preserve working relationships. However, the selection and effectiveness of ADR methods largely depend on the perspectives and interests of different stakeholders, particularly contactors and consultants.
This study aims to identify the primary causes of disputes in civil engineering contracts in Sri Lanka, examine the factors influencing the selection of dispute resolution methods, and evaluate the most effective ADR mechanism from the viewpoints of key stakeholders.
The research was conducted in three phases. First, a comprehensive literature review was undertaken to explore the ADR framework within the Sri Lankan Construction industry. Second, three detailed case studies were analyzed, focusing on claims associated with quality, time and cost. Third, in depth interviews were conducted with professionals representing contractors, Consultants and Clients. The findings from the case studies and interviews were analyzed to identify significant differences in stakeholder perceptions regarding dispute causes and ADR selection.
The results provide valuable insights in to the origins of construction claims and the decision making processes behind ADR method selection. This research contributes to improving dispute management practices and offers practical recommendations for construction professionals, policy makers and researchers seeking to enhance dispute resolution effectiveness in Civil engineering Contracts in Sri Lanka.
item: Thesis-Abstract
A Study of project characteristics influencing construction claims leading to disputes in the Sri Lankan construction industry
(2026) Boyagoda, EMLCB; Ramachandra, T
The construction industry is known for its adversarial nature due to its complex and risky environment, involving multiple stakeholders and a people-oriented workforce. Disagreements between parties often manifest as claims and disputes. While numerous studies have explored the causes of disputes and potential prevention or resolution strategies, there remains a lack of research on predicting the probability of dispute occurrence based on project variables. This research aims to explore the relationship between the probability of dispute occurrence and project characteristics, specifically focusing on disputes caused by claims in building projects. Through an extensive literature review, it is established that disputes arising from claim heads are the primary source of conflicts in the construction industry, with contractual claims being the most severe. To address this issue, fifteen claim heads were selected from standard contract forms (FIDIC, JCT, NEC) for data collection. The research focused on completed building projects in Sri Lanka over the period of five years, utilizing document reviews and discussion with project participants for data gathering. Frequency analysis, Spearman correlation, and multiple linear regression analysis were conducted using SPSS software to determine the relationships between variables. Findings reveal that variations, extra work, and delay payment claims are the most common claim heads leading to disputes in the construction industry. These three claim heads show significant correlations with project characteristics such as procurement method, payment method, type of client, and type of contractor. Models developed based on multiple linear regression analysis illustrates the relationship between variations, extra work, and delay payment claims and the project characteristics. The research suggests that project stakeholders need to assess the likelihood of disputes arising from variations, extra work, and delay payments, taking into account specific project characteristics. This assessment would help stakeholders to identify potential disputes, establish appropriate risk mitigation measures and devise tailored dispute resolution procedures that minimize the allocation of time and financial resources to dispute resolution. By understanding the relationship between project variables and dispute occurrence, stakeholders can proactively address disputes, fostering a more cooperative and efficient construction environment
item: Thesis-Abstract
Effective claim negotiation : key determinants in Sri Lankan construction projects
(2026) Shiwanthi, BKC; Jayasena, S
Claims have been recognised as an inevitable and rather essential tool in construction industry to address the different risks that might materialize during the contract period.to ensure fair and reasonable contract management. Accordingly, claim management, has become an essential process incorporated in to contract administration and claim negotiation is a pivotal element in this process which ensure successful claim settlements and project success by avoiding conflicts and disputes. However, many researchers have noted that claim negotiation success is impacted by various factors. Further to the academics these factors might be vary in different socio-economic backgrounds as well. Hence this research was conducted to identify factors that would impact effective claim negotiations in the construction industry of Sri Lanka. Accordingly, a comprehensive literature review was carried out and the factors that would impact the negotiation effectiveness were identified under three main categories as, preparation, communication and people factors. Subsequently, a semi structured interviews were conducted to collect data on Sri Lanka’s industry practices, and these data were analysed using content analysis technique to identify factors that would impact the negotiation effectiveness and a framework was developed identifying key determinants impacting effective claim negotiation in Sri Lankan construction industry. This framework can be used as a guideline in claim negotiation to ensure effectiveness of the effort. Proper preparations by understanding claim history, positions and interests of parties, opportunities/risks, desired parameters and planning negotiation strategies accordingly is the first step in success journey. Amongst those, author founds interesting suggestions such as negotiating based on interests rather than position, know your goals and plan accordingly and requirement of understanding commercial risks and opportunities other than contractual/legal positions. Communication factors including active listening, building trust, emotion management, mode of communication and documentation also plays a vital role claim negotiation success. Moreover, although computer‑mediated communication can enhance negotiation effectiveness, its use within the industry remains minimal as per the expertise. People factors such as the knowledge, emotional intelligence, negotiation behaviours, power dynamics and cultural differences also has a significant impact on claim negotiation effectiveness and interestingly these people factor are quite hard to control and manage in favour of negotiation success and hence bring more unpredictability to the negotiation table. Quality, Cost and unbiasedness of the external experts need to be considered when selecting third parties. Recognition of level of authority requires at different cases and different level of negotiation are some interesting factors that came up in the discussion. Furthermore, experts identify additional factors influencing effective claim negotiation, including the relationship between parties, mutual trust, confidence in negotiation effectiveness, strategic role assignment prior to negotiations, party flexibility, and the pursuit of innovative and creative solutions. All these considerations must be carefully integrated into negotiation planning and practice to ensure an effective claim negotiation process. Strengthening professional education and expanding training on proper negotiation practices is therefore essential for the advancement of the industry.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Dispute avoidance by improving contract documents in road construction projects in Sri Lanka
(2026) Dissanayake, DMSR; Disaratna, V
Disputes on construction projects, especially on road projects, have been a nagging problem that delays projects, escalates costs, and have ruined professional relationships between the parties involved. Accordingly, this study aimed to analyse the errors in contract documents that lead to disputes, to develop a mechanism to improve the contract documents to avoid disputes in road construction projects in Sri Lanka. The study identified the leading causes of dispute, error types in contract documents, and methods of increasing document clarity and effectiveness. The aim was approached through a quantitative research methodology by adopting a quantitative survey as the data collection technique. Respondents to the survey included the professionals on Sri Lankan road construction projects, namely, contractors, consultants, and client representatives. Data obtained from the questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods such as mean score rating and ranking. Payment, delay, and scope variations were identified as the leading causes of dispute. In addition, unclear language, insufficient specifications, and contractual document inconsistencies were recognized as leading factors contributing to misunderstandings and claims. As the strategies to improve the contract documents, scope clarity, risk management provisions, change management procedures, and clearly defined dispute resolution processes, were also identified in this study. As the final step, a usable framework and a checklist for contract document improvement on road construction projects specific to the Sri Lankan setting was developed for acquiring improved contract documents. The study identifies the necessity of structured, succinct, and transparent documents for the promotion of cooperation, accountability, and efficiency on road construction projects.