New Approach in National Spatial System (Part 2)

• A9 with C9: Nine ‘C’ shaped Economic Corridors - The C shaped Economic corridor is undoubtedly a vital link in our economic planning process, as it entails creating essential market access points for our local and foreign investors. These commercial corridors will be developed integrating Colombo port, and Katunayake Airport, Hambantota port and Mattala airport, Kankasanthurai port, and the airport, as these are fundamental and core to making the “agro industrialization” growth strategy a reality as envisioned by our government.
• Re-engineering Townships - The urbanization process in Sri Lanka is uneven with distinct disparities between districts in the same province and between cities in the same area. We have been mindful of these disparities and their implications on overall development. Therefore, we propose an integrated physical spatial system to address these disparities in urbanization and change the structural pattern of our cities. 
• Four Multi-dimensional Commercial Cities - We will develop the leading commercial cities of Colombo, Hambantota, Jaffna, and Trincomalee, and establish them to be connecting centers of the national and international network, as they consist of ports and airports. 
• National Cities - Kandy, Anuradhapura, Gampaha, Ratnapura, Galle, Badulla, Mannar, Batticaloa, and Kurunegala have identified as cities that will develop as imperial cities in the master plan mainly because of their historical, social and economic value and their interconnectedness with the C zone. 
• Connecting Cities - Cities such as Puttalam, Negambo, Pothuvil, Dambulla, Matara, Nuwara Eliya, and Buttala will develop as connecting cities to the four multi-dimensional commercial national towns and cities. 
• Cluster Cities - The development of the four multi-dimensional commercial cities and the national cities will be accompanied by a program to develop cluster cities with information technology, knowledge, and tourism services that will also serve as conducive locations for urban living. 
• Development of a Metro Rail system to link the satellite cities in the Colombo district, including Port City: We intend to develop a Light Rail Transit (LRT) system, thereby enabling a mixed choice of transport, which would ease congestion in traffic and commuting. 
• The New Colombo beautification project would be undertaken by introducing beautiful urban forests, water gardens, and green eco belts on either side of the highways, thereby eliminating the visible concrete facades. We will also ensure that New Colombo will have an efficient garbage management system, a sewage and liquid waste management system as well as a water purification system. 
• Comfortable Travel  Nature-Friendly Transportation Network - Our government had assigned a high priority to the transport network in the country. The objective was to facilitate commuting and establish a road network that supported economic growth. However, public transport remains neglected, and much remains to be done to upgrade and develop the road network as well as the railway network. Our government will assign a high priority to improve the transport network and to provide an efficient and environmentally-friendly system to the public.

OSL Take: The aggressive development program that covers all vital economic sectors islandwide undertaken by the government of Sri Lanka has created many business/investment opportunities in the country. Infrastructure development projects have been given much prominence, while multilateral donor agencies have come forward to provide funding for these programs. Foreign businesses could, therefore, explore business opportunities in Sri Lanka’s development program.

VBS/AT/19122019/Z_TB2