Negombo Development Plan (2021 - 2030)

The Urban Development Authority has been provided legal provision to prepare the development plans for the declared Urban Development Areas under Section 8(a) Part II of the Urban Development Authority Act No. 41 of 1978 as amended by UDA Act No. 4 of 1982. Negombo was declared as a municipality by Gazette Notification No. 9939 dated 21st January, 1949. The Kochchikade Town Council area and part of the Katana Village Council area were subsequently incorporated into the Negombo Municipal Council by the Gazette Notification No. 453/4 dated 12th May 1987. The area of authority of the Negombo Municipal Council was further extended by Gazette Notification No. 1218/34 dated 10th January 2002. The Negombo Municipal Council Area has also been declared as an Urban Development Area under the Urban Development Authority Law No. 41 of 1978 by Gazette Notification No. 1000/3 dated 3rd of November 1997 and No. 1172/7 dated 20th of February 2001. The first significant urban development intervention of Negombo city was initiated in 2001 by declaring Negombo as a growth center with three major local authorities in 2004; the preparation of the development plan for the Negombo development area has been initiated. This particular plan has contributed to upgrading the physical, environmental, economic, and social aspects of the city. The development plan has been formulated by UDA for 20 years, effective from 2004, and presently it needs to be updated considering the emerging urban scenarios of the city. The Revised Development Plan is targeting 12 years to enhance the physical, environmental, economic, and social well-being and comfort of the city. According to the Vision of Prosperity (Manifesto of the present Government), the Negombo planning area is also listed as an affiliated city under Part VII (New Approach to the Use of Physical Space). Accordingly, through the strategic development projects proposed by the Negombo Development Plan, this city will be associated with the national city of Gampaha by adding tourism, economic, and historical value. Accordingly, the Negombo planning area will link with the national city of Gampaha by adding tourism, economic, and historical value to the city through the strategic development projects that have been proposed. And it has identified the core values and potential of the Negombo planning area to make Negombo a self-sufficient economy as a tourist destination with the natural harbor and coastal beaches, Negombo Lagoon, Ma Oya, and Hamilton Canal, which blend with the blue-green network and biodiversity, as well as the modern Western culture of the Roman Catholics, which have been identified as key potentials and are expected to develop in the tourism, fisheries, commercial, and other sectors.