This database is part of a project entitled "State of Sri Lankan Cities 2018" with the objective of improving information and its analysis in promoting informed and evidence-based policy and integrated city planning, as well as private and public sector investment.

With an overall objective of enabling municipal areas in Sri Lanka to become urban centres with increased economic growth, good governance and resilience; with reduced urban and peri-urban poverty; and be habitable spaces to live in, the capital cities of the nine provinces in Sri Lanka were chosen. In Colombo, in addition to the commercial capital of Colombo MC, the administrative capital of Jayewardenapura Kotte MC and the adjoining administrative MC of Dehiwela-Mouth Lavinia were also analysed to derive a better picture of the city of Colombo.

To produce the report, the project collated information, developed composite maps and databases, and analysed this information to produce The State of Sri Lankan Cities Report which provides a snapshot of the state of urbanization of major human settlements across the island. It includes quantitative and qualitative city-based data and conducted specific analyses of key national, provincial and municipal urban development issues in the nine provincial capitals in Sri Lanka.

The report includes 10 chapters of data and analysis, to provide detailed sectoral assessments of Sri Lanka's cities and present an integrated policy analysis. In doing so, it aims to support evidence-based urban policy and planning to drive the social and economic development of the country's urban centres.

The report draws on methodologies developed by UN-Habitat in other State of Cities Reports to examine the 'state' of Sri Lanka's major cities and highlight overall trends in the country's urban development. It uses recent satellite images to establish land use and urban expansion patterns, and also draws on statistical data, surveys and city workshops to engage local stakeholders. The assessment centres on a detailed analysis of the country's 9 Provincial Capitals, including Anuradhapura (North Central Province), Badulla (Uva Province), Jaffna (Northern Province), Kandy (Central Province), Kurunegala (North Western Province), Ratnapura (Sabaragamuwa Province), Trincomalee (Eastern Province), and Colombo, the capital of the Western Province and of the country.

The report outlines a vision of a better urban future for all Sri Lankans, drawing on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and New Urban Agenda, as well as key Government of Sri Lanka strategic documents. This future vision of Sri Lankan cities includes 5 key tenets, competitiveness, inclusivity, resilience, safety and sustainability, which frame the analysis in the following chapters.

An integrated policy matrix is outlined at the end of the report. It is envisaged that the matrix will provide a roadmap to aid policy makers to identify cross-sectoral policies, which work across multiple sectors to remove constraints and achieve a better urban future for all Sri Lankans.

Database

The second output “SoSLC Database” aims to put in place a centralized database that will be critical in helping improving evidence-based decision making in urban planning. The database is a platform that displays information through a spatial interface and supported by statistical data. The base information of this database is the data that has been utilized in the report.

This database will be updated primarily by government officials and there will be a part of the database portal which will be open to the public. The database will act as a platform to store accurate city data and national level data. The stored data can be referred, downloaded, commented upon, suggestions provided to improve and add new data by the public. Officials and decision makers are able to store sensitive data, which will have different levels of pre-defined access rights.  

The intention is to ensure that training on the use of the database can be provided to all cities, targeting different levels depending on the responsibility and user roles. All cities are encouraged to maintain the database with regularly updated city specific data which meets an accepted standard. 

Download training manual here...