City Development Strategy : Colombo

Abstract

The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), in
 collaboration with the World Bank, UNDP, UNCHS (HABITAT) and
 the Western Provincial Council (WPC) in Sri Lanka, launched
 a project in February 2000 to formulate a comprehensive
 strategy framework and a perspective plan of action for
 development of the city. The purpose was to identify key
 areas and issues that need systemic and planned attention of
 the Council and other major stakeholders and to develop
 appropriate strategies to address them. A Senior Consultant
 was assigned to the CMC by the sponsors to help formulate
 the strategy through a consultative process. In formulating
 the strategy framework, the CMC consulted a wide variety of
 stakeholder groups through a series of formal and informal
 consultations. They included civil society partners such as
 NGOs and CBOs, representatives of the poor; senior municipal
 officials; and leading private sector representatives, i.e.,
 major investors, realtors, developers and Chambers of
 Commerce & Industry. Their views, ideas and suggestions
 were reviewed and those compatible with the development
 vision and thrust identified by the CMC task forces and
 stakeholder consultations are incorporated in this strategy
 framework. All stakeholders, particularly the private
 sector, considered the opportunity as an unprecedented move
 by the CMC and WPC. They welcomed the offer to join in this
 unique partnership-building exercise in city management and
 have assured the city administration of their wholehearted cooperation.