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Prof. H.P.S. Caldera
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Late Professor Siri Caldera, an internationally recognised Building Economist and Educationalist, was the first head of Department of Building Economics at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.
He started his career at the Architectural Branch of the Public Works Department In 1952. Having completed his initial technical studies at the Ceylon Technical College, Colombo, he received a six-year fellowship to continue his studies in Quantity Surveying abroad, by the Public Service Commission of Sri Lanka.
He was a resident in Australia from 1960 to 1965, where he worked as a Quantity Surveyor in the Commonwealth Department of Works. During this period he successfully completed a Diploma Course in Quantity Surveying at Brisbane Technical College (1960-1962), and a Supervision Course at the School of Management in Sydney (1964-1965). Prof. Caldera returned to Sri Lanka as a qualified Corporate Member of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors. During his time as the Chief Quantity Surveyor in the Public Works Department he recognised the need of Quantity Surveyor’s dynamic involvement in improving the then contemptible state of Sri Lankan Construction Industry.
Thus, with the collaboration of few Chartered Surveyors, Prof. Caldera took the initiative in establishing a Quantity Surveying degree course. As a result of many distinguished efforts and commitments, Prof. Caldera was able to commence the Bachelor of Science in Quantity Surveying Honours degree course at the University of Moratuwa in 1986. Professor Caldera was also instrumental in course design and organisation of the National Certificate of Technology in Quantity Surveying. Distinguished among his immense contributions to the construction industry and the profession of Quantity surveying are the collaboration to the research and development works initiated by the Institute for Construction Training and Development of Sri Lanka (ICTAD), and designing of the QS training programmes for the practicing Quantity Surveyors. He brought international recognition and honour to the QS profession of Sri Lanka representing many international events.
He had a vision to develop Quantity Surveyors to a level that would accommodate the need of dynamic professionals to strategise the construction industry of Sri Lanka. Today QS has become an essential profession in the construction industry in Sri Lanka and worldwide, accomplishing Prof. Caldera’s vision.