X AN EVALUATION OF THE STRATEBGY OF DECENTRALIZED

URBAN DEVELOPMENT PLANNING

IN

SRI LANKA An Evaluation of the Strateggy of decentralized

Urban Planning in .

A Dissertation Presented

To

The Department of Town & Country Planning

University of

Moratuwa

Sri Lanka

In partial fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science in. Town & Country Planning

TILAK WANNIGAMA

45, Susantha Mawatha Sri Lanka May, 1986 52152 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am indebted to a number of persons who have helped me to successfully complete this dissertation. At the very outset I owe very much more than I can express to Mr. A.L.S. Perera, Head of the Department of Town and Country Planning, University of Moratuwa for his invaluable assistance received throughout of the study by constant supervision, guidance, discussions, advise and criticisms which helped me to complete & crystalize the research successfully.

My special thanks are due to Mr. N.D.Dickson, Director, Planning, Urban Development Authority who was a accessible at all times without appointments encouraged me in number of ways in completing this study devoting his valuable time for long discussions, expressing ideas, suggesstions etc. to make the study comprehensive.

I remember with gratitude Professor M.W. J.G». Mendis (Prof. Willie Mendis ) the Vice-Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, who encouraged me to follow the M.Sc. Course in Town and Country Planning which sharped and shaped my skills. Further I very much appreciate the assistance extended to me by Mr. Wijeratne Banda, former Secretary, University Grants Commission.

My thanks are also due to the officials of the Urban Development Authority, Municipal Councils, , Dehiwala - Mount Lavinia, Urban Councils, Tangalle, Panadura, , Town Council, who spent their time in answering my questions and collecting information and data in this study. It is with great appreciation I record my indebtedness to my wife Kumari for " leaving me out " from all the domestic troubles and helping me in addition to her own restless practise as a Lawyer as I was always busy with this study.

The two little members of my family Ama, my loving daughter and Nayake, my loving son also helped me encouraging me in various ways though they know a very little about the world.

Finally I would never forget to thank Miss Chitra Mala de Alwis and Mr. M.S. Gunasekera who took all the pain in typing this dissertation neatly and accurately within a very short time.

TILAK WANNIGAMA May, 1986 •i

LIST OF CONTENTS

Page

* Acknowledgement s 3 - k

List of Contents 5 - 6

List of Maps and Charts 7

Introduction 8-10

Chapter One :- Evolutionary Process of Urban Development

in Sri Lanka 11 - 37

Chapter Two Urban Planning Legis­ lation in Sri Lanka prior to 1978 38 - 57

Chapter Three The Establishment of the U D A under the Urban Development Authority Law No. 41 of 1978 and the need

for Decentralization 58 -7 1

Chapter Four Critical Analysis of the U.D.A. Decentra­ lization Scheme 72 - 90

Chapter Five Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations 91 - 98

Annextures 1. Summarized Procedure of Urban Development Scheme under the Town & Country Planning Ordinance No. 13 of

1946 99 - 103 Page

2. UDA Circular No. DEC/1 -08/1/38 Decentralisa­ tion of the UDA Plann­ ing & Development Con­ trol Functions to local

authorities 104 - 108

3. Circular / letter No. 05/01/119 dated 21st Oct. 1985 Decentralisa­ tion of the Planning Activities of the UDA

to Local Authorities. 109-111

4. Decentralisation of the UDA Planning & Develop­ ment Control Functions to Local Authorities- some aspects of the planning process - by A.L.S. Perera U.D.A.

Consultants - 1"

5. Scheme of Decentrali­ sation of the UDA Plan­ ning and Development Control Functions to Local Authorities. 120 - 123

6. Circular/letter 08/1/38 dated 30/04/85.

7. List of Urban Develop­ ment areas declared

under the UDA Law. 125 - 128

* Abbreviation 131 Bibliography 129 - 130 LISTS OF MAPS & CHARTS

Ancient City Development Map

Flow Chart of the Study

Flow Chart of the Planning Procedure of the UDA Law

Flow Chart of the Evaluation of the Decentralized Planning Procedure

Declared Urban Development Areas in Sri Lanka Map

Organizational Chart of the Institutions involved in Decentralized Urban Planning INTRODUCTION

Urban Planning in Sri Lanka dates back to 5th century B.C. and these settlements were mainly identified close to a river or stream. Over a period of time these settle­ ments improved when the trade activities and administra­ tive activities became comprehensive. When foreign rulers invaded Sri Lanka this system changed and various laws and regulations were introduced to development land and buildings. This particular study tries to analyse how towns and cities in Sri Lanka improved under these regulations and what are the problems in the current procedure governing the city development.

Therefore Chapter One deals with discussing the process of Urban development in Sri Lanka mainly referring to three periods. That is Pre-Colonial, Colonial and Post Colonial periods. In each of this period the growth of cities and the regulations which carried the development activities will be discussed.

Chapter Two will discuss the Planning Legislations that were introduced to Sri Lanka prior to 1978. Emphasis will be given to Town and Country Planning Ordinance of 1946 and Housing and Town Improvement Ordinance of 1915 because these were the main two laws that carried the land and building development in cities in Sri Lanka.

The establishment of the Urban Development Authority under the Urban Development Authority Law No. 41 of 1978 will be discussed in the Third Chapter. Further it will be eloborate the main functions and the purpose of the establishment of the Urban Development Authority in order to promote Urban Development. This Chapter also includes the details of decentralization functions of the Urban Development Authority.

Chapter Four is devolved to the analysis part of the decentralized planning and development control functions of the Urban development Authority. This analysis part is mainly divided into six sections in order to iden­ tify problems that have been created due to the decen­ tralized functions. Therefore the problems will be discussed with reference to Procedural, Administration, Technical, Financial, Public Relation and Legal.

Chapter Five will give the Summary, Conclusion and Recommendat ion. AN EVALUATION OF THE STRATEGY OF DECENTRALISED URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN SRI LANKA

EVOLUBTIONARY PROCESS OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN SRI LANKA

1 <

URBAN PLANNING LEGISLATION

IN SRI LANKA PRIOR TO 1978

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE U.D.A. UNDER THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY LAW No.4l AND THE NEED FOR DECENTRALIZATION

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY DECENTRALIZATION SCHEME

SUMMARY

CONCLUSIONS AND

RECOMMENDATIONS

METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY