• Structural changes to policies mooted together with Nat. Physical Planning Dept. 

The Ministry of Urban Development and Housing is to reportedly conduct a feasibility test in order to find the possibilities of addressing the issues that could arise with a rising urban population.

A recent survey conducted by the National Physical Planning Department has revealed that the urban population in Sri Lanka has increased to 44.5%. The previous survey on urbanisation in Sri Lanka was conducted in 2012 and urbanisation stood at 18.2% back then. According to the latest survey, the percentage of the urban population has increased to 44.5% during the past 10 years. The survey has identified 3,025 Grama Niladhari Divisions as urban areas.

Against this backdrop, the Ministry is looking for the possibilities to address the issue without causing any inconvenience to the urban communities. Sources within the Ministry told The Daily Morning that the Ministry is focusing much on how to control the present situation and oncoming consequences rather than restructuring urban areas. According to sources, the Ministry is to make structural changes to the policies that have not been changed for many years with the support of the National Physical Planning Department. Sources said that such policies are not capable of addressing many issues currently prevailing in this sector, since those have not been updated for decades. 

The Ministry is also to create a plan in order to bring all the relevant authorities such as the Urban Development Authority, institutions affiliated with the disaster management, health and construction sectors together, with the view of creating a collaborative dialogue which could address the rising urban population density.

The aforementioned survey has also revealed that the percentage of urbanisation in the Gampaha District is 76.76, followed by the Jaffna District at 67.28. The lowest percentage of urban population has been reported from the Mullaitivu District; and it is 2.84.  This survey’s findings are to be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers after receiving approval from the President and all the District committees.