The Making and the Unmaking ofa National Level Physical Planning Policy
The case of
The National Physical Plan 2050- Sri Lanka
byJagath Munasinghe

Department of Town & Country Planning
University of Moratuwa
Sri Lanka
jagathnm@uom.lk

The making of the
National Physical Plan 2050 – Sri Lanka
Legitimate Process+

Political Process

Facts and Figures+

Assumptions and Speculations

Scientific Reasoning+

Legendary Inputs

Consultative effort+

Hegemonizing Process

Consensus building+

Contesting ideologies

Learning experience+

Unlearning event

The LegitimateProcess

June 2016

Review of the Existing Plan
Preliminary Investigation and the Analysis of the Context

December 2016

Consultation of Stakeholders + Focus Group Discussions
Vision Formulation

Formulation of theNational Physical Plan

Consultation of Technical Advisory Committee
Preliminary Planning and Policy Framework
February 2018

Stakeholder Consultation
Detail Surveys and Analysis
Detail Draft Plan
Consultation of Technical Advisory Committee
Stakeholder Consultation

May 2018

Inter-Ministerial Coordination Committee
Consultation of Technical Advisory Committee

February 2019

Final Draft Plan
Approval of the National Physical Planning Council

June 2019

Gazette Notification
Implementation

The National Physical Plan 2050
Guiding Policies
1. Conservation of the ‘Critical’ and the ‘Unique’.
Considered the sensitive settings, water resources and the natural ecosystems
for the long sustaining economy and the socio-cultural environment.

2. Promotion of the ‘Livability’ for ‘Human’Considered the environments most appropriate for human habitation in termsof climate, availability of resources for basic needs and essential services.

3. Optimization of the ‘Utility’ of the ‘Available’.

Considered the optimum use of the available resources and infrastructure for
future development and in view of the Sustainable Development Goals.

4. Exploration of ‘Potentials’ and ‘Enhancement’ of the useConsidered the Human Resource locations: where populations withvarious skills and education levels are locatedResource locations: such have potentials for diversified developments.

Inductive inquiry:‘Urbanization’ versus ‘Urbanizing’
Understating the ‘Urban’ in Sri Lanka
Dominant Understanding:“Sri Lanka is a country with a majority rural population,predominantly based on agriculture” ?

• Dominant Understanding:• “Sri Lanka is a country with a majority rural
population, predominantly based on agriculture” ?

Source :World Urbanization Prospects (2014) and Department ofCensus and Statistics, Sri Lanka

How Urban is Sri Lanka?
Census Figures:
Urban Population in Sri Lanka
CensusYear

Percentage
Populationin the Category

Percentage
Residential
Land
Occupied

Category Percentage

Category

1971

3.08

18%

6.0

1981

11.63

23%

7.2

2001

33.50

14.6%

6.3

2012

49.49

18.2%

6.7

Source: Department of Census and Statistics .

‘Urbanization’ versus ‘Urbanizing’
Understating the ‘Urban’ in Sri Lanka

How Urban is Sri Lanka?
Census Figures
Urban Population in Sri Lanka

Issues

Associated with the Current State of information• Misleading picture of the level of urbanizationof the populations and the society• Impacts on Urban/Rural Development Polices• Misappropriation of investments and national,
provincial and Institutional budgetary allocation

A more reflective approach to define ‘Urban’
MandateAccess toUrban
Facilities

Expression

Attributes(Units of Observation)

Source of Water fordomestic usage

Pipe born Water Supply

The use of Energy forhousehold activities

Main Grid Electricity fordomestic Lighting
Gas or electricity for Cooking

Access Roads

Paved, Local Authority
maintained Access Roads

Solid waste Disposal

Local Authority Solid Waste
collection and disposal

Aspirations Education Attainment

Level of Attainment
Type of Education
Access to internetA more reflective approach to define ‘Urban’
MandateUrban
LifestyleExpression

Livelihood

Attributes(Units of Observation)

Main source of HH Income
Sector of Employment

Daily Routine

Types of Engagement

Shelter

Type of Tenure
Type of House
Type of Toilet facility
Type of Bathing facility

Means ofTypes of communication devices
Communication
Proficiency in Second Language‘Urbanization’ and ‘Urbanizing’ of Sri Lanka:
Analysis of Census Figures in Sri Lanka for:Who is Urbanized?
• Having Access to ‘Urban’ Facilities• Leading ‘Urban’ Lifestyles
Virtually Everybody,• Having ‘Urban’ Aspirations
but Literally nobody
Urbanization level% of the(percentile category) Total population
91-100
81-90
71-80
61-70
51-60
41-50
31-40
21-30
11-19.9
0 -10

0.54
1.67
5.28
6.37
12.17
16.71
41.7
12.57
2.85
0.15

Cumulative %Population% ofLand Extent

Cumulative %Land Extent

0.54
2.21
7.49
13.86
26.03
42.74
84.44
97.01
99.86
100.01

0.03
0.1
0.37
0.56
1.86
5.27
36.91
32.87
19.05
2.96

0.03
0.130.5
1.06
2.92
8.19
45.1
77.97
97.02
99.98

Source: Munasinghe, M, Geeganage, C and de Silva C, 2015.

Urbanization’ and ‘Urbanizing’ of Sri Lanka
80%
70%
60% ‘Urban
Distribution of populations, who are more than 40%

Policy Implications
Urbanizing Land use: Inevitable impacts• Agricultural Land
> Marshes / Waste Lands> Reclamation of Land for residential / other activities> Flash Floods > ‘Questions of Environmental Quality’• Increased Built up Area
> Decreased ground assimilation > Increased runoff> Imbalance in ground feeding > ‘Questions of Livability’• Increased discharge / dumping of waste> Land Pollution > Soil Pollution > ‘‘Questions of Sustainability’• Fragmentation> Soil Erosion > Unproductive Land > ‘‘Questions of Sustainability’> Multiple Ownership > Less Effective Use > ‘Unhealthy Land’

Conservation of the ‘Critical’ and the ‘Unique’.
Lands Need to be Conserved(Analysis of the Sensitivity and the Constraints)

Population Distribution Pattern Change
between Different Years (1981-1994, 1994-2001, 2001-2012)
1981- 1994

1994- 2001

2000-2012

Education Attainment Change in Different Years(2001-2012)
Primary

SecondaryTertiaryUnemployment Rate in Different Years: 2001, 2012

Education Attainment Change :2001- 2012

Unemployment Rate Change :2001- 2012

Policy Implications
Population - 20,800,000 (2018 estimated)
Relatively more literate ( 91% - 95%),
Increasingly ‘better educated’Year

Tertiary

SecondaryPrimary

1991

18 - 20 %38 – 40%

90 – 95%

2001

20 - 25%

45 – 50%

90 – 95%

2011

25 - 30%

50 - 60%

90 - 100%2021

30 – 40%

60 - 70%

90 - 100%

2030

> 50%

> 70%

100 %

Population characteristics• Increasing at a decreasingrate (1.0% )• Literacy rate (>95%)• Compulsory Secondary
Education and Promoted
Tertiary Education• Unemployment rate (4-6%)

Implication:
Higher Attainment > Higher Expectations > New Opportunities

Major Infrastructure
Development Projects

Ongoing and Proposed (2015-2030)

1. Conservation ofthe ‘Critical’ and the ‘Unique’.
Lands Crucial for Conservation
due to Environmental Sensitivity
Criteria
1. Occupies by Forest Reserves, Conserved
Areas, Environmentally Sensitive Areas,
Wild Life Reserves, etc.
2. Vulnerable to Landslides, Floods,
Cyclones, and other Natural Disasters
3. Exposed to the impacts of climate change(sea level rise, high rainfall, drought etc.)

2. Promotion ofthe ‘Livability’ for ‘Human’Lands with Livability andSuitable for Human Habitats
Criteria
1. Free from disasters
2. Availability of water supply schemes
3. Availability of main road connections
4. Close proximity to main urban centers
5. Availability of lands for development
purposes (free from disasters)
6. Healthy temperature
7. Healthy rainfall3. Optimization ofthe ‘Utility’ of the ‘Available’.
Lands Developable for theBest Utility of Land, Infrastructureand Human Resources
Criteria
1. Free from Major Threats
2. Availability of Water for Developments
3. Proximity to Highways and Main Roads
4. Close proximity to Urban Centers
5. Less of undulating terrains

4. Exploration of ‘Potentials’ and‘Enhancement’ of the use.

Locations with High Potentials
for exploration of Possibilities

Eco/Nature/Culture Tourism,
Agricultural Resources
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources,
Mineral Resources
Human Resources

Criteria

1.Easy access to future potential resources
2.Close proximity to national road connections(Expressways, Highways and Railways)

Northern Corridor
1,500,000

Policy Strategy
Need to contain urbanization Mannar
150,000(transformation of land uses)
into appropriate locationsMullaitivu
100,000

Vauniya
100,000
Anuradhapura
500,000

Puttlama
150,000

Polonnaruwa
150,000
Eastern Corridor
1,500,000
Mahiyangana
100,000

Kandy
500,000
Nuwara Eliya
100,000

East –West Corridor
8,000,000

Rathnapura
100,000

Galle
300,000

Matara400,000

Wellawaya
100,000

Southern Corridor
1,600,000

The unmaking of the
National Physical Plan 2050
Legitimate Process+

Political Process

Facts and Figures+

Assumptions and Speculations

Scientific Reasoning+

Legendary Inputs

Consultative effort+

Hegemonizing Process

Consensus building+Contesting ideologies

Learning experience+

Unlearning event

The impact of theMillennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
Compact

Source: https://www.google.com/search?q=MCC+Sri+Lanka&tbm

Propagated Misconceptions/Speculations
Colombo – Trincomalee ‘Corridor’:• Divide Sri Lanka in to two parts• There will be a fence/wall on either side of thecorridor

Manifesto of the New Government :The C Shaped Economic Corridor
and Four Multi-Dimensional
Commercial Cities

Lessons Learnt:.

• The facts are silent in the darkness of fears.
• Purpose gives meaning to the tool.
• Conclusions are relative to the intentions.