The urban contradiction
Despite rapid urbanisation propelling Sri Lanka
to lower middle-income status, ‘livability and prosperity’ make the
country a ‘model of sorts’ for the region:
This may appear contradictory: But experts say
that it is the spatial concentration in the Colombo metropolitan
area – a headache for city planners and managers – that had
propelled the island to its lower middle-income status. Decidedly,
they see a benefit there and even feel, Sri Lanka can be a model of
sorts, due to its ‘relative prosperity and the livability.’ As
urbanisation takes place at rapid speed, if managed properly, the
same trend can be used to achieve upper middle-income status for Sri
Lanka, say experts. Ede Jodge Ijjasz-Vasquez, Senior Director,
Social, Urban, Rural and Resilience Global Practice, World Bank,
sees many pluses in Sri Lanka’s urbanisation story – as well as
challenges. Sri Lanka is ‘relatively prosperous’ when compared with
other South Asian countries. Its urban poverty rate is lower as well
as the urban population living in slums. The process of urbanisation
too is ‘less messy,’ he noted, peaking at the September 29 launch
event of World Bank’s report “Leveraging Urbanization in South Asia:
Managing Spatial Transformation for Prosperity and Livability.”
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