Quantity Surveying profession has introduced in ancient time and those days called measure of the building works,( Ancient Egypt was called of “ measurer as royal works” ) The term “quantity surveyor” was first recorded in 1859 (Kiran, 2009). Today, the quantity surveyor is known by many other names such as ‘construction cost consultant’, ‘building economist’, ‘construction accountant’ and ‘contractual and procurement specialist’ (Ashworth et al., 2013: 19).
According to Buys (2004: 2), the first quantity surveying practice was established in England in 1785 by the firm of Henry Cooper and sons.
The Contractors discovered that remarkable amount of measuring and calculation involved in order to arrive at a competitive tender figure.
The contractors were understood drawings differently, result of that quantity was differ and component of overhead has increased.
This lead to the introduction of the quantity surveyor to act on behalf of all tenderers, as an unbiased, independent measurer and quantifier of the required building materials, with the surveyor’s fee to be shared amongst the contractors (Buys, 2004: 2).
The client and architect realized that they could benefit from such a professional, by employing the quantity surveyor as a construction economist and cost consultant. During the 1960’s cost planning was added to the quantity surveyor’s list of services to avoid tenders that are over budget.
As such so many developments occurred in other countries including Sri Lanka too.
( https://qs.mandela.ac.za/Hi tory-of-the-Quantity Surveying Profession )
We are proud to say that APQSE-SL which had been established and registered under the Registrar of Companies Act., and obtained registration on 2nd day of May in the Year of 2002, and that process was done by our Fellow Member, PQS PB G Wickramasinghe the Honorary Founder President as well as one of a Directors of the company of APQSE SL. At that time there was a very prominent need as well as us to have some kind of recognition for those who were practicing in Quantity Surveying and estimating (with technical knowledge in Building Construction and Builders quantities / City &Guilds ) to gain recognize , not only that many activities of Quantity Surveying and Estimating profession have been covered by many other professionals due to lack of professional Quantity Surveyors and Estimators specially because there were much work load too . Reason for this situation has occurred due to unavailability of higher study facilities for Quantity Surveying and Estimating Education of our Universities. But need of Quantity Surveying and Estimation of every construction activities were demanded by both fields of Engineering and Architecture. As because Building owners need to know how much of money / expenditure involved for their propose building constructions. For this purpose there were few expert calculators specially how to manage the money involvement for value, so that time other persons who prepared Building Drawings also prepared approximate Cost Estimates too and this was not sufficient to control actual needs of the Building Owners. Therefore they were compelled to face searching for expert of QSs/Estimators.
This essential need has been recognized by the Commonwealth organization and they had introduced a scholarship programe for personnel engaged in Quantity Surveying & Estimating of the Public Work Department for Professional studies in Australia was the only solution emerged in Sri Lanka since after about 1950s. Fortunately few draftsmen of Public Work Department was selected to follow that Quantity Surveying Couse in Australia and when they back to the department were able to initiate professional QS Services in Sri Lanka. Accordingly the First Standard Method of Measurements of Building works in Ceylon has published in March 1968 by the quantity surveying section of public works department Colombo. This was published by the Advisor appointed under the Colombo Plan for Technical Co-operation M/S. J D Haw FRICS. The Institute of Quantity Surveyors of Australia and the Master Builders Federation Australia permitted to use their Standard Method as a basis of principle and lay out. These supports have been obtained by Mr. H P S Caldera A I Q S (Aust) and Mr. S S Tilakarathne A I Q S (Aust) of Public Work Department rendered valuable assistance to preparation of that document.
Fortunately there was an International Conference held in 1974 at the BMICH namely Commonwealth Association of Surveying and Land Economy has raised a proposal to make arrangement to start university Degree Course in Quantity Surveying and as well Quantity Surveying Technicians training course in Sri Lanka for Q S Officers in Govt. & Private sector. Theater that proposal implemented since 1977 by introducing National Certificate in Technology Part time Course of “Quantity Surveying Engineering” and It was commenced as a part time course at the University of Katubedda Campus situated in Moratuwa. This course helped not only promote knowledge of “Quantity Surveying officers” in Govt. & Private sector but also informed to public to understand about word use for “ quantity Surveying & Estimation”. Later this course was commenced at every Technical Colleges in Sri Lanka taught by local languages too. But organizers could not offer continuous training opportunities for trainees to reach to Diploma level QS education for up grading system to professional levels. The State Engineering Corporation and National Housing Development Authority had come forward to introduce post of Quantity Surveyors in there cadre recruitments. Likewise little by little the profession of Quantity Surveyors and Estimators were emerged and recognized.
Some of these Quantity surveying officers arranged to have an Association of QSs to discuss their higher education for professional qualification some organizers of those QSs were able to obtained professional Qualification from foreign Institutions of QSs and some were able to go abroad for higher salaried employments. Accordingly, later that QSs’ Association was not functioned due to organizers didn’t returned from foreign jobs. Under this circumstances few of other Senior QSs gathered and Organized this Association of Practicing Quantity Surveyors and Estimators-SL established by the Founder Honorary President PQS P B G Wickramasinghe. It was established and registered under the Companies Act on 2nd May of2002 at the office situated at No.20 Sir James Perris Mawatha in Clombo-02 (which was the office of Mr M C Mendis ). Then APQSE-SL was managed by Honorary President Mr. Wickramasinghe up to his sudden death happened on 17th May 2012. (Speech of Mr. M. C. Mendis at the AGM held on 23rd December 2016)
