| |  |
| Institutional
Constraints |  |
Development has also
suffered from institutional and management constraints. Different agencies and
authorities act in a rather haphazard way within the city area and, in addition,
different public institutions operate with different level of legal and implementation
powers. The co-ordination of the four types of administration consisting of provincial,
divisional and local authorities is possible only through intervention. A systematic
and clearly defined management system of CMR within the existing institutional
and legal frame work have to be identified. If this is not possible major changes
may be required. The institutions that should be considered in this connection
include, Local Authorities, Provincial Councils, Urban Development Authority,
Central Environmental Authority, Sri Lanka Land Reclamation & Development
Corporation,. Coast Conservation Department . Agrarian Services Department etc.
| Potential
for Development | |
The present land use
structure of the CMR is dominated by the attraction of the City of Colombo because
it is the largest city. The location of the Port, accessibility from all parts
of the country and the employment opportunities that the city offers are other
advantages that Colombo has in relation to other Cities in the country. The city
of Colombo will continue to dominate the largest city in the country and, with
the increasing role that it is expected to play as a commercial centre, it will
offer substantial potential for development not only in the City, but also in
the entire CMR area.
| Location
of Harbour | |
Colombo port lies at
the confluence of the sea routes providing great potential for Colombo port to
develop as a major shipping centre in the region. The comparative advantage that
it has should be exploited so that the Colombo port could become an international
shipping centre in the South Asian region.
| National
Importance | |
Colombo has developed
as a main commercial centre of the island and presently developing it as a gate-way
into the sub-continent of South East Asia. The
City of Colombo is linked with other regional centres by a network of main roads.
This area is linked with all parts of the country mainly through transport routes
such as High Level Road, Low Level Road, Kandy Road and Galle Road. The
Government decision in 1985 to establish a new administrative capital in Sri Jayawardenapura
Kotte has significantly increased the importance of the Core Area. The establishment
of the capital City has also attracted a large number of residential development
and commercial service centres to cater to both administrative and residential
functions.
| Geographical
Formation | |
The Geographical formation
of the Colombo and Greater Kotte Area serve as a potential nucleus and hub for
future development in view of its flat terrain.
| Employment
Opportunities | |
The broad range of
employment opportunities are the other potential factor for the importance of
the area. Many informal activities in the City that can be supported by the labour
force in Greater Kotte area is one of the contributory factor for the importance
of the Core Area..
As the Colombo city and the Greater Kotte area are
expected to experience an accelerated development in the future, this region will
be the major source of employment in the country.
| Land
Availability | |
In the Colombo City
a significant potential is that valuable lands remain under-utilised. Therefore,
these lands offer great potential for future development in this region. The Core
Area plan proposes that lands in Colombo are be allocated for more productive
activities such as commercial, banking, financial and port related activities,
which lands in Kotte could be mainly used for housing and administrative activities.
| Environment |
|
The magnificent sea
view of the City is its highest potential. This will create a distinctive garden
city image. A large part of Beira Lake, could be opened up as a water based recreation
and linear parks. Also the Kelani Ganga and the existing canal reservations could
be developed as linear parks and attractive promenades. The marshes and the paddy
fields are the green lungs of the city. In short the proposed plan should be based
on environmental consideration while focussing on the "sustainability of
development". | 
