Transitioning to Middle Income and Beyond: The Urbanization Challenge in Post-conflict Sri Lanka

Under-urbanization and inadequate urban planning are by-products of suppressed growth and development during the conflict years in Sri Lanka. The end of the conflict in 2009 opened up many opportunities for urban development. Despite a significant contribution to infrastructure development and city beautification, there was growing discontent towards the government that ended the 30-year conflict, due to reasons such as alleged corruption, utilization of armed forces for urban development and over emphasis on rapid beautification of the Colombo city. Learning from the mistakes of the previous government, the new government elected in 2015 proposed a new chapter in urbanization in Sri Lanka with a private investment-led model with public–private partnerships. Nevertheless, both post-conflict governments failed to provide sustainable solutions to long-term urban issues such as unauthorized urban development and settlement, flooding, solid waste disposal, public transportation and congestion. Such unresolved urban issues and socio-economic marginalization and exclusion have the potential to breed future conflicts. As such, well-managed urbanization and efforts to avoid rural–urban disparities are needed to ensure the absence of new forms of conflicts. Lessons from Sri Lanka’s post-conflict urban experience show that rapid urban development efforts could have been replaced with well-planned and inclusive urban development that included an appropriately developed institutional framework. Similarly, post-conflict excess military strength would have been better handled with a comprehensive re-integration plan, to adjust into a non-combatant military force that engages in performing civil duties.