The Sri Lanka Cement Corporation (SLCC) has said it has recently seen an upturn in local sales as infrastructure drives improved demand.

“During the last six months SLCC has seen a turnaround,” he said, adding that the cement consumption has increased as a result of ongoing infrastructure development projects including road network projects in the Northern and Southern Provinces in the country. “We even managed to settle a part of SLCC debt to the Bank of Ceylon (BOC),” Sisira Paranagama, Chairman SLCC told the Business Times.

The company is set to start building a 25-storied headquarters building with private apartments and a recreation facility worth Rs4.5bn in Colpetty next month, according to officials.

“We got the drawings of the proposed building and will start construction at the 95-perch land belonging to SLCC in Colpetty. We intend to construct a landmark building to reap benefits from the tourism boom,” Paranagama added.