“A city must be a free space where everyone who lives there, including people and animals, has the right to safety and a sense of belonging.”
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya emphasised that people’s lives cannot be improved merely by constructing concrete buildings, stressing that a city must be a place where everyone who lives there, including people and animals, enjoys safety and a sense of belonging.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the official launch of the “Life Cities” Development Programme, implemented in parallel with the Budget proposal titled “A New Approach to Urban Development”, presented in line with the policy of “A Thriving Nation– A Beautiful Life,” held in Colombo on 11 September.
At the event, the project plan of the Life Cities Development Programme was presented to the Prime Minister by the Minister, Mr. Bimal Rathnayake, and Deputy Minister Mr. Eranga Gunasekara.
Subsequently, the project plans were handed over to local government representatives from the cities of Matara, Batticaloa, Matale, Vavuniya, Badulla, Jaffna, Chilaw, Hatton, Thalawa and Eheliyagoda, which will be developed under the first phase of the programme.
Speaking further, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:
Today, the Ministry of Transport has become a major topic of discussion among both the media and the public. This is because the Ministry has begun implementing practical and people-centred projects. The ’Life Cities’ programme is one of such projects.
People’s lives do not become better simply because concrete buildings are constructed. The Colombo District is the best example of this. Urban areas in our country have not expanded according to a proper system; rather, they have developed in a highly unplanned manner.
44.5% of Sri Lanka’s population live in these unplanned areas. Various measures have been taken at different times to formalise these areas. At certain points, people were removed from cities in an attempt to beautify them. We continue to experience the consequences of those decisions even today. When we speak of the traditional village and the city, the city is complex and diverse. Therefore, it is fundamentally wrong to develop a city on the assumption that it belongs only to one segment of society. The city belongs to everyone.
It is extremely important to use a highly transparent scoring system when selecting cities for the ’Life Cities’ programme. Every city has its own unique identity, and we must understand and interpret that identity when carrying out development. We must pay attention not only to access to services, but also to the quality of those services.
At the same time, we must remember that a city is not a concrete jungle. Animals, just like the people who live in a city, are also part of that city. We must create cities where all of them are safe. Cities cannot be developed without considering the people who live in them.
The Prime Minister further expressed her confidence that the Life Cities Development Programme would address all these aspects.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Mr. Bimal Rathnayake stated:
Those who hold leadership positions in the provinces, including ministers, governors and others with authority, are best placed to facilitate urban development. In some cities, the school may be the heart of the city, while in others it may be a different place. Therefore, urban development is something that must be undertaken with the proper understanding. Every place we create must be transformed into a place that serves the wellbeing of the people. The way we, as a Government, think about the people and the country is evident even from the logo of our programme. It reflects the essence that a city is not merely a collection of buildings.
The city was initially conceived as a place where people could live comfortably, but its condition has changed today. Therefore, every city must have an identity unique to it. The Municipal Council and Provincial Council are best positioned to provide the support necessary for this. We initially selected 10 cities. In these cities, we will implement people-centred and sustainable development that makes them suitable places for people to live. We have allocated Rs. 65 billion to develop 26 cities across the island in this manner.
All these plans have been prepared in accordance with our policy of ’A Thriving Nation– A Beautiful Life.’ At the same time, the public must develop confidence that we are not merely talking about these initiatives, but implementing them in practice. Mayors must safeguard that trust. We have already allocated the necessary funds. Start the work from tomorrow. Further allocations will be made for subsequent activities based on the progress demonstrated by the mayors.
The occasion was attended by the Provincial Governors, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Mr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply Mr. Susil Ranasinghe, Minister of Fisheries Mr. Ramalingam Chandrasekar, Deputy Minister of Urban Development Mr. Eranga Gunasekara, secretaries to the Ministries, the Chairman of the Urban Development Authority, officials of regulatory and line agencies, local government representatives.
Prime Minister’s Media Division