Contemporary Planning Practices in Sri Lanka

When we talk about contemporary town planning practices its mean after the independence period. according to the different type of political manifesto leads to the country during this period; Close Economy, open economy based political manifesto. 

in early post-independence period the British developed Town and Country Planning ordinance play vital role of town planning practices in Sri Lanka. It is completely British Administrative Structure and planning practices; like Municipal councils, Town councils and village councils and they prepare their own town plans for their area. During that time the Theme of Comprehensive plan was practiced in rest of world. that kind of planning practices also held in Sri Lanka.

Comprehensive Plan

Comprehensive planning is a process that determines community goals and aspirations in terms of community development. The outcome of comprehensive planning is the Comprehensive Plan which dictates public policy in terms of transportation, utilities, land use, recreation, and housing. Comprehensive plans typically encompass large geographical areas, a broad range of topics, and cover a long-term time horizon.

For example of that the Patric Abacombe Colombo Plan (1948); it is a comprehensive Plan prepared for Colombo soon after the Independence from British ruling. However the plan is not implemented. When the plan prepared time Sri Lanka under the British ruling and Colombo Municipal council was interested in Colombo city development. When the plan prepared the nation’s political was changed. locally elected government is most interested in rural area development rather than Urban area development.

After that ­­­­the world trend also moved towards the Structural Planning concept. The United nations development programme (UNDP) was brought that concept to Sri Lanka in 1974. The Colombo Master Plan was prepared with UNDP assistance. This Plan itself called “Master Plan” anyhow it have characteristics of “Structural Plan” (Munasinge, 2014)

 Structure Plan:

A Structure Plan is a long term (ten to fifteen years) statutory framework used to guide the development or redevelopment of land. It is used to define; future development and land use patterns; the layout of trunk (primary distribution networks) infrastructure and main transportation routes, including terminals; conservation and protected areas; and other key features for managing the direction of development.

The Colombo Master Plan was prepared under the frame work of Town and Country Planning ordinance (1946); it not implemented. Due to the Town and Country Planning Department does not have enough powers to implement the plan.

Soon after that the government policy also changed to pro capitalize from socialist policy. the initiate Urban Development Authority (UDA) to Implement Development plans with enough powers and functionality.

UDA prepared different Structural Plans for declared areas. However the UDA also preparing action plans to implement of those structure plans. Those action plans can be categorized as Strategic Plans.

Scenario after the NPPD Establishment

Anyhow in these days (after 2010) in Sri Lanka two major planning bodies are playing vital role in preparing physical plans in Sri Lanka.

National Physical Planning department and Urban Development Authorities have legal power to prepare physical plans in Sri Lanka. According to the Sri Lankan Law and order, National Physical Planning Department have powers to prepare the National Physical Plan, Regional Development Plan and Local Town Plans. Further Urban Development Authority (UDA) have legitimate power to prepare plan and implement which are the area declared area. these bodies are preparing following Plans;

a.       National Physical plan

b.      Regional Physical Plan

c.       Local Plan

d.      Development Plan

 National Physical Plan

National Physical Plan prepared by the National Physical Planning Department, It is a policy level plan. The President of the Country have power to approve this plan. Under the Town and Country Planning Ordinance 1946, Amendment of No 46 of 2000 is the legal base for prepare the plan

2.      Regional Physical Plan.

Regional Physical Plans are made for the request of subject Minister. Town and Country Planning ordinance providing the power to Regional planning committee to prepare the plan however the Subject minister need to be approve the plan. The regional plans are not in first time in Sri Lanka. However the in the declaration of Region not like the British administration division.

Regional Plan should be prepared by the Regional Planning Committee but in practically National Physical Planning Department preparing the plan under the regional planning committee consultation.

The Regional Plan is a structural plan; it should be adopt the national physical plan. anyhow the regional development structural plan may have some action projects to implementation of that plan.

3.      Local Plan

Local Plan is prepared by local authority under the provision of Town and Country Planning Ordinance and its amendments; but in practice National Physical Planning Department is preparing the plan with consultation of Local Authority.

Mostly the Local Plan can be categorized as structure plan; the local plan should be adopt with Regional and National Physical Plan.

The Approval of the plan according to the Town and Country Planning ordinance and it amendment, The Minister have Rights to approve and gazette the plan.

 Development Plan

Development plans are made by UDA which are the area declared as Urban Area under the Urban Development Authority Act of 1978. When we look up the development plan it is a zoning plan for landuse; and its can be categorized as structural plan with lot of Action plans. the action plans can be categorized as strategic plans. those can be adopt the present neo-liberal era.

The development plans have the guide line for building land subdivision and accessibility. these regulating guidelines well play for promoting and controlling the development according to the development plans.

Conclusion

 The world trend in planning practice has been changed in last few decades from Comprehensive planning to Strategic Planning. but Sri Lankan planning practices did not adopt the changes of rest of the world. it is more or less practice the structural Planning practice which were introduced by United Nations Development programe. The UDA still adopting the Zoning planning for the regulating land use.