Updating National Physical Planning Policy and the Plan
We are in the process of updating National Physical Planning Policy and The Plan. It was necessary to update the National Physical Planning Policy and the Plan due to the changes in existing policies on different sectors which affect the spatial structure of the country, need of strengthening the implementation strategy, necessity of responding pandemic situations and incorporating the policy document ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor’ in to the current National Physical Plan.
Small Towns Development Programme
The National Phnysical Planning Department (NPPD) has initiated the “Small Town Development Programme” to prepare Local Physical Plans for twenty service centres dispersed in the country which have not been declared under the Urban Development Authority law. Among these service centres, two centres have been identified under the “Gama Samaga Pilisandara” programme and the rest of the centres have been recommended by the respective Commissioners of the Department of Local Government in each provinces.
In the first quarter of the year, NPPD had engaged in the preliminary work of plans preparation of all the twenty service centres. Under the Covid Pandemic situation the department was unable to employ the planners to finalize all the plans. Therefore, it was decided to finalize the following seven town development plans within the year 2020.
Town Centers Identified under the “Gama Samaga Plisandara” programme
- Pinnawala (Ratnapura District)
- Rassagala (Ratnapura District)
Town Centers recommended by Commissioners of the Department of Local Government
- Polpithigama (Kurunegala District)
- Ankumbura (kandy District)
- Wilgamuwa (Matale District)
- Thalgaswala (Galle District)
- Nagoda (Galle District)
- Ellewewa (Polonnaruwa District)
Pinnawala Town Development Plan
Polpithigama Town Development
Lolugaswewa Township Development Project
Since Anuradhapura Town was developed around Anuradhapura sacred area, Sacred Area was affected by concentration of adhoc and informal activities during During British Era. To protect the sacred area, The Anuradhapura Conservation Scheme was prepared by the planners and it was implemented by Anuradhapura Preservation Board under power vested by Anuradhapura Preservation Board Act, No 32 of 1961. Under this scheme incompatible structures to be removed from Anuradhapura Sacred Area were identified.
As the powers and duties vested by the act was not properly implemented and Anuradhapura Preservation Board was dissolved in 1973. Subsequently, the Anuradhapura Sacred Area Panning Scheme prepared by the Department of Town and Country Planning (Currently National Physical Planning Department - NPPD) was come in to operation.
Anuradhapura Sacred Area Planning Scheme was also identified the importance of the clearing of the historic center of the Anuradhapura Sacred Area. This area comprises of the land historically occupied by Maha Vihara (Sri Maha Bodhi, Ruvanweliseya, Lovamahapaya, Thuparama), Jetavanarama, Abhayagiriya (including Lankarama, Kuttam Pokuna and Samadhi Statue), Dakkhina Thupa, Mirisavatiya and the ancient Citadel. Most of this area was cleared by relocating the families to the new settlements established by NPPD in Devanampiyatissa I, II III and IV.
The rest of the settlers who live within Citadel (Ethul Nuwara) damage the archeological value of this Ethul Nuwara. Therefore, it was identified that it is a priority requirement to facilitate the archeological excavation and conservation of the citadel by removing the families in the Ethul Nuwara and declare it as an Archeological Area.
Further, the families settled in the Ethul Nuwara face severe restrictions in obtaining urban amenities in view of their living on archaeological reserves. Therefore, to assure the preservation of archeological site and to ensure the tourist attraction., Lolugaswewa New Township Development Project is going to be implemented for resettling families lived in Ethul Nuwara by developing a new town closer to the sacred area with all urban facilities and minimum disturbance to their livelihood.