Town Planning-what is it about?

Ishara JAYAWARDANE

As we travel around Colombo we experience a surge of pride, pride for our motherland as we see Colombo beginning to transform. Old dilapidated and outdated buildings are being torn down to make way for beautiful buildings. In Dehiwala an old neglected antique shop is replaced with a domino’s pizza parlour.

Also in Dehiwala adjoining the beach, an enormous neglected building is now under re construction, in what seems to be something like a hotel or high rise building. Just opposite Nawaloka a building is under construction. With the end of the war people are envisioning new possibilities for their business’ knowing that with peace there will be prosperity because when people invest in business the infrastructure of the country gradually and automatically transforms. Mahinda Chinthanaya is ‘Painting The Town Red’. Just think who would like to work in shabby unmaintained and old building? Indeed who would like to even look at abandoned buildings?

Which is why new modern attractive buildings are coming up and the Colombo Metropolitan area is now becoming posh. Town Planning is not just a profession; it is a calling. Town planners have the ability to positively affect the quality of lives of people. The need for town planning is everywhere. It is not just building town and cities but building communities. In that way it is truly challenging when the planners aim to achieve balance in environmental, social, physical and economic growth and development. Thus it is more than just an occupation.

World Town planning day fell recently. Emphasising the necessity of town planning and the need of town planners, the World Town Planning day is celebrated each year on November 8. It is celebrated amongst 30 countries all around the world. This day has three objectives :

*Draw attention to the aims, objectives and progress of urban and regional planning around the globe.

*Highlight the valuable contributions sound planning has made to the quality of global settlements and their environment.

* Give worldwide coverage to the ideals of urban and regional planning not only within the profession but also amongst the general public.

“The country is going through several landmark events. There is established peace in this country. A large capital is being invested throughout the country for development. Many countries have been embarked on a rapid urbanisation process. We, the Institute of Town Planners also feel that we have a commitment to our country. We are trying our level best to assist the government” said President, Institute of Town Planners Sri Lanka (ITPSL), Hemantha Jayasundera. President, (ITPSL) L.D. Dickman said that the celebration of the World Town Planning Day is at a most appropriate time in the history of town planning in Sri Lanka.

“30 years of civil unrest did not permit Town Planners to perform their legitimate functions in a meaningful way.

Physical development of Towns and infrastructure can be properly planned only when peace prevails. We are celebrating the World Town Planning Day in Sri Lanka when the country is well placed to take off with substantial emphasis on urban, rural and regional development with provision of infrastructural development” said Dickman.