ITPSL plays vital role in physical planning

By K.D. Fernando

The Silver Jubilee of the Institute of Town Planners Sri Lanka (ITPSL) fell on 31 March, 2007.

ITPSL is playing a vital role in the sphere of physical planning and development of this country with an integration to economic, social and environmental aspects of land. Accordingly, the professional functions of the Town Planners in the urban, and also in the agriculturally predominant areas (so-called rural) with an integrated spatial development approach. They are employed in planning and development of the central, provincial and local government institutions. The National Physical Planning Department is solely responsible for the enforcement of the Town and Country Planning Ordinance and its amendment Act No. 49 of 2000. The latter has a provision to establish the Physical Planning Council, which comprises of ministers with its Chairman being the Head of State.

ITPSL was established as an incorporated body by the Act of Parliament No. 23 of 1986. Its preamble states that WHEREAS and Institute called and known as the "Institute of Town Planners, Sri Lanka", has heretofore been established in Sri Lanka for the purpose of effectually carrying out and transacting all objects and matters connected with the said Institute according to the rules agreed to by its members: This profession is actively engaged in all development matters pertaining to Planning, design and management of land and human settlements.

At its very inception, this Institute held a Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Association of Planners on the theme "Urban Planning and the Provision of Shelter" from 1st to 4th September, 1986 at the BMICH.

At the end of this conference a declaration was adopted towards the establishment of "Commonwealth Housing Centre" in support of the objectives and programmes of International year of Shelter (IYSH). The late President R. Premadasa as the subject Minister made a resolution to the UNO in 1987, which led to the declaration of the "Year for Shelter for the Homeless."

A landmark event of our professional institute is the establishment of the Young Planners Forum with a membership of which exceeds 200.

Another significant feature is that trust and confidence have been kept by the successive governments in our professional town planners. Many of our town planners have been appointed to the highest decision making positions pertaining to development in this country.

The international linkages with this professional Institute are many. A few of them are, The Royal Town Planning Institute, Commonwealth Planners Association, SAARC Planners Organization, EROAP, etc. Our Institute had been elected with a position with the wise presidency of the South West Asian Region Commonwealth Planners Association. Another progressive movement of the institute has been to enter into a MOU with the Planning Institute of Australia.

Initially this MOU was meant for planning and development of Tsunami affected areas in Sri Lanka. This has been also extended towards the exchange programme of professional planners between the two countries for a mutual benefit.

The writer is the President, Institute of Town Planners Sri Lanka, Former Head, Department of Town & Country Planning, University of Moratuwa.