Sri Lanka | UN-Habitat

Innovative Approaches for Involuntary Resettlement

In Sri Lanka today, as in many other developing countries, there is a growing urgency to come up with creative and sustainable solutions to tackle the twin pressures of infrastructure needs and the interests of communities who are affected by such projects, often losing their homes, land and livelihood in the process.Rapid industrialization has catapulted Colombo, Sri Lankass commercial capital, into an economic hub. However, this has also severely damaged the environment, especially the cityss peripheral areas abounding in factories. One of the worst victims of industrial wastewater pollution is the Lunawa Lake, south of Colombo. The lake straddles two adjoining Municipal Councils: Dehiwala-Mt. Lavinia and Moratuwa. Barely a decade ago, it was surrounded by a thriving fisheries industry. Continued discharge of waste water into its waters over the years played havoc, killing most of the fish. Moreover, the catchment area suffers from frequent flooding, due to an inadequate drainage system.

In Sri Lanka, cooperation between the Government and UN-Habitat has a long history, dating back to 1978, with UN-Habitat providing assistance to a range of national programmes, city-based projects, policy support and post disaster and post conflict reconstruction assistance.

Impact

Urban numbers

Challenges

Sri Lanka currently stands at an urban paradox with regard to urbanisation. According to the last census (2012), Sri Lanka was populated by 20.3 Mn people, including 3.7 Mn urban residents (18.2 per cent of the population). Due to this small urban population, Sri Lanka is ranked as the 11th least urbanized country in the world in the 2018 UN World Urbanisation Prospects (UNDESA, 2018). However, there is considerable evidence that official urban population data masks the true extent of the country’s urbanization. According to the Agglomeration Index, Sri Lanka’s urban population is between 35 – 45 per cent while GOSL policy documents estimate a 50 per cent urban population (GOSL 2017).

Urban sprawl, land scarcity, climate change and disaster risk vulnerability, environmental pollution, encroachment of ecologically sensitive areas, urban traffic congestion, diminishing green cover, inadequate housing and poor access to services in underserved settlements and plantations are some of the main challenges to sustainable urbanization in Sri Lanka.

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Donors and partners

UN-Habitat Sri Lanka adopts a participatory process in the implementation of all its programmes. All initiatives are developed and implemented in partnership with a range of key stakeholders and partners. At the commencement of programmes, effective partnerships are formed within the community to ensure collaborative decision making, problem solving and resource sharing. Communities are instilled with a sense of ownership, trust, solidarity and accountability by working together as a team. Effective links between the communities, local and central government departments, civil society, community based organisations and donors facilitate a smooth transition of benefits through these programmes to the people of Sri Lanka.

Legacy content

Total value of UN-Habitat investments (2008-2013): US$ 44,385,934
Total number of UN-Habitat projects (2008-2013): 18 projects
Main donors: International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), Australian Aid Agency (AusAID), European Commission (EC), Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Government of India and the Government of Sri Lanka
Implementing partners: local government ministries, agencies and other local authorities; international NGOs such as the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC), as well as other UN agencies like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Sri Lanka has a total population of 20 million and the annual population growth is less than 1%. The country has benefited from the conclusion of a three decade long conflict in 2009 and the country’s achievement of Middle Income Country (MIC) status. Sri Lanka has made good progress on MDGs with early achievement of its targets on safe drinking water, and basic sanitation. Overall access to secure tenure is 95.2%.

General information

Although official figures state that the urban population has increased by only 2% over the past decade, there has been rapid urban development through the expansion of urban areas. This urbanization calls for increased investment in basic urban services, mass transportation, improved road safety, reduction of air/noise pollution, environmental hazards and improved town planning.

Since 1978, UN-Habitat has assisted in the development of human settlements policies in Sri Lanka, ranging from the Colombo City Master Plan in the 1980’s to advocating enabling approaches that promoted participatory planning and development, focusing on reduction of poverty and promoting inclusiveness. Parallel to these efforts, UN-Habitat has shared its global experience to assist Sri Lanka in mitigating the impacts of natural/manmade disasters.

Key achievements of the recent past include assisting the communities to construct nearly 40,000 post-disaster houses, national/local interventions in climate change mitigation, DRR and innovative low income settlement upgrading programmes.

UN-Habitat projects in Sri Lanka

Project for Rehabilitation of Community Infrastructure and Facilities in the Conflict Affected Areas in Northern Province of Sri Lanka

Donor: Government of Japan
Location: Killinochchi and Mullaitivu districts
Outcome: 60 km of internal access roads including culverts, 14 RWH facilities, 14 km of masonry storm water drains, 19 community centers, 19 pre-schools, 130,00 trees planted.

Indian Housing Project

Donor: Government of India
Location: Killinochchi, Mullaitivu & Jaffna districts
Outcome: 16,800 houses, skills and alternative technologies training.

Improving Living Conditions in Returnee Areas of Sri Lanka through Housing

Donor: EU, Australian Government, SDC
Location: Killinochchi, Mullaitivu, Batticaloa and Mannar districts
Outcome: 4,350 houses and community infrastructure.

Support to Conflict Affected People through Housing

Donor: EU, Government of Australia, SDC
Location: Vavuniya, Killinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar districts
Outcome: 5,049 houses and community infrastructure.

Disaster Resilient City Development Strategies Sri Lankan (Phase I and II)

Donor: Government of Australia
Location phase I: Cities of Batticaloa, Ratnapura, Kalmunai and Balangoda (concluded)
Location phase II: Cities of Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Akkaraipattu
Outcome: Vulnerability assessments, Preparation of Disaster Preparedness Plans, Capacity building of Local Authorities to promote disaster resilient human settlements.

Contacts

Address: UN-Habitat Programme Manager, United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) 202-204, Bauddhaloka Mawatha Colombo - 07, Sri LankaPhone: +94 (0) 11 2580691 Ext: 342Fax: +94 (0) 11 2581116Web: www.unhabitat.lkEmail: info@unhabitat.lk