BUILD BEYONDₓ 2026 Conference & Field Visit

The Civil Engineering Society (CES) and the Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya, in collaboration with the Tokyo Cement Group, successfully hosted Day 01 of the “BUILD BEYONDₓ 2026” Concreting Conference on 16th July 2026 at Hotel Royal Kandyan, Kandy. The workshop brought together eminent academics, industry professionals, and undergraduate engineers for an intensive day of expert lectures, research updates, and technical deliberations.

Day 01 served as the theoretical and conceptual workshop anchor of the two-day event, focusing on cutting-edge innovations in concrete technology, sustainable binder solutions, advanced mix design frameworks, and real-life structural case studies. The session aimed to bridge the gap between academic research and modern industrial applications, providing undergraduates with unparalleled exposure to contemporary engineering practice in Sri Lanka.

The technical sessions during the workshop delivered key insights across concrete technology and sustainable engineering practice. Dr. M. G. M. U. Ismail opened with industrial strategies for decarbonizing cement through supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), fly ash, and slag integration, which was complemented by Prof. Anura Nanayakkara’s lecture on high-performance concrete (HPC), self-compacting concrete (SCC), and rheological optimizations for high-rise infrastructure. Prof. Priyan Dias presented multi-objective mix design frameworks balancing strength, durability, dynamic loads, and cost efficiency, while Prof. Hiran Yapa examined next-generation geopolymer binders and alkali-activated materials as green alternatives to Portland cement. Closing the technical segment, Eng. Pavithra Jayathilaka and Mr. Chathuranga Ekanayaka demonstrated practical applications covering specialized tile adhesives, repair mortars, ready-mix solutions, and major Sri Lankan infrastructure case studies.