Dehiwala – Mount Lavinia Development Plan(2021-2030)

An integrated plan prepared for a declared Urban Development Area considering the economic, physical, social and environmental aspects in order to promote and regulate the development of these aspects can be identified as a Development Plan. As per the provisions under section 3 (1) and (2) of Urban Development Authority Act, No. 41 of 1978, the subject Minister is vested with the powers to declare a particular area as an Urban Development Area if he or she is of opinion that such area is suitable for development. The Urban Development Authority has been granted powers by the section 8 A of Urban Development Authority (Amendment) Act, No. 4 of 1982 to prepare Development Plans for such declared Urban Development Areas. Mount Lavinia area gained urban status by the year 1929 and in relation to that Dehiwala – Mount Lavinia District Council was established on 08th January 1929. This area became an Urban Council Area on 01st January 1940 and as a result of rapid urbanization and administrative reasons, this area became a Municipal Council Area consisting of 19 Municipal Divisions on 03rd December 1959. Following to that, the area was declared as an Urban Development Area by the Extra Ordinary Gazette Notification No. 41 dated 30th September 1978. Accordingly, the first Development Pan prepared for this declared Urban Development Area by the Urban Development Authority as in effect for the period 2007 – 2020 had been published by the gazette notification no. 1594/32 dated 27th March 2009. The Urban Development Authority commenced the preparation of a new development plan for the Dehiwala–Mt-lavinia Municipal Council Area as will be in effect the period 2022 – 2031 due to the expiration of the existing development plan and the timey need of strategic intervention for emerging physical, economic, environmental and social contexts of the area.