Track: Construction Management

Abstract

Globally, urban development has been limited to improvements in built environment. Similarly, in Sri Lanka, compromise of the natural environment and inability to response real life expectations of inhabitants have rested the rigorous urban sprawl in a debatable position. Therefore, need for a multi-disciplinary approach towards urban development was identified when implementing new development projects. A robust environment with affordable amenities, accessibility to services and environmentally sustainable community is recognised as a liveable city. Thus, liveability is selected as a common platform to analyse this need, because liveability is the short-term suspense of inhabitants of cities of Sri Lanka; especially in Colombo. For this study, a survey strategy is adapted by interviewing experts in sociology, ecology, town planning and architecture who are experienced in urban planning. A thematic analysis is steered on healthcare, security, stability, economy, infrastructure and environment. Study reveals that most of liveability indicators related to Sri Lanka are significantly similar to that of global context, yet resettlement of slum households, waste management and restoration of the ecologically significant areas are context specific. Moreover, attention to socio- economic aspects, environment and character of the city, availability, quality and proximity to services are significant when planning urban built environment.