Malintha Fernando, a final-year student of the Quantity Surveying Degree Programme of the Department of Building Economics, has made a significant mark by winning the 2024 PAQS-IWATA Foundation International Essay Competition. As a student member of the Institute of Quantity Surveyors Sri Lanka (IQSSL), Malintha brought glory to his university, institution and country, becoming only the second Sri Lankan to secure this prestigious accolade since the competition's inception in 2009. He received this award at the Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS) Annual Congress, held from August 25th to 27th, 2024, at the Rizqun International Hotel, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. At the congress, Malintha presented his winning paper titled “Digitalisation towards a Smart Nation”. His paper highlighted the importance of embracing technological advancements to create smart nations, with a special focus on the construction industry's transformation and its ethical implications. Malintha's progressive ideas resonated with the conference's vision for the future of quantity surveying. The PAQS-IWATA Foundation, established in 2008, is dedicated to promoting the quantity surveying profession and supporting the development of young quantity surveyors in the PAQS region. By sponsoring this essay competition, the foundation fosters innovation and leadership among aspiring professionals all around the globe.
