Re-defining urban areas in Sri Lanka
Loading...
Date
2016-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Institute of Policy Studies, Sri Lanka
Abstract
The existing urban population estimate in Sri Lanka fails to reflect the true level of urbanization due to the inappropriate definition adopted. This paper develops an alternative definition for urban areas in Sri Lanka to reconcile the mismatch between actual and existing estimates, by reviewing definitions adopted in other countries and analyzing perceptions of Key Informants.
The author defines a Grama Sevaka division as urban if it has a minimum population of 750 persons, a population density greater than 500 persons per km2 , firewood dependence of less than 95 percent of households, and well water dependence of less than 95 percent of households. Using data from the Land Use Policy Planning Department and Department of Census and Statistics, the author estimates that 43.8 percent of Sri Lankan population live in urban areas
The paper makes an important contribution to Sri Lanka's policy and legislative arena to revise the existing definition of urbanization.
Description
Keywords
Urbanization, Sri Lanka