The rapid adoption of modern technologies with an emphasis on sustainability has become essential in various industries, including construction. Nevertheless, Sri Lankan construction SMEs continue to struggle with adopting new technologies, with social sustainability factors playing a crucial yet often overlooked role. Reflecting that this study aims to investigate the adoption of technology in SMEs in the Sri Lankan construction industry by identifying the most critical barriers to technology adoption in Sri Lanka’s construction sector and determining the strategies to overcome these challenges. The study utilises a mixed research choice with two phases: Round 1 - Expert Interviews and Round 2 - Questionnaire. These data are analysed using manual content analysis and the best-worst method, respectively, in each phase. Findings reveal that the high initial cost is the most critical barrier for technology adoption in SMEs, while cybersecurity concerns remain the least concerning factor. Further, the study identified seven more barriers specific to the Sri Lankan context and sixteen strategies to address these barriers, which were later classified under each barrier. Thereafter, the social sustainability perspective of these strategies was discussed. Overall, this study contributes to advancing knowledge on technology adoption in Sri Lankan construction SMEs by providing valuable insights into key barriers and effective strategies, offering guidance for industry stakeholders, policymakers, and future research to promote a more sustainable and technologically progressive industry. Its uniqueness lies in ranking significant barriers, formulating targeted strategies, and evaluating their impact on social sustainability, providing valuable guidance for industry stakeholders, policymakers, and future research toward a more sustainable and technologically progressive construction sector.