Biyagama Development Plan (2021 - 2030)

The UDA Act No. 41 of 1978 stipulates one of the core activities as promoting integrated planning in urban areas declared by the minister in charge of the organization, and preparation of development plans, regulations, and enforcement are critical activities that need the highest priority in the organization. Thus, the authority has a regulatory power to prepare the integrated development plans for all urban declared areas under the UDA (amendment) Act. No. 04 of 1982 Part II - section 8 A (I). Under the tenfold key policies contained in the current Government National Manifesto, the “New approach in National Spatial System" was discussed as the eighth policy. It will restructure the entire urban environment and introduce a C-shaped economic corridor that connects all intermediate cities and physical areas, giving access to major ports and airports, which is expedited. Among the four multi-dimensional commercial cities—connecting cities, national cities & cluster cities—Biyagama can be identified as an intermediate city with industrial economic value centered on the Port of Colombo. Accordingly, steps have been taken to formulate plans in the Biyagama Development Plan, taking into account the new approach of the spatial system through the National Manifesto. The cooperative plan of UDA prepared for the year period of 2020-2024 focuses on 5 main principles, & the first three principles are directly linked with the development plan preparation process & its importance. That emphasized “We Plan," “We Enforce," & “We Implement” as the first three principles, which derive the integrated developments within the urban declared area, effective & efficient regulations, & the strategic projects with community, economic, & environmental aspects. Accordingly, the Biyagama Development Plan preparation was guided under the principles & aspects of the UDA Corporate Plan 2020–2024. The Biyagama PS area was declared as an “Urban Development Area” on 13.02.2001 under the gazette notification no. 1771/10, and current development practices pressured the identification of Biyagama as an area for urgently needed planning intervention. There is no gazette urban development plan for the Biyagama PS area, and from March 2017 onwards, the preparation of a strategic development plan has been started and completed within three years. The Biyagama development plan is a local-level development plan that will be valid from 2021 to 2030 and that expects to address critical issues and harness the recent potentials of the Biyagama PS area.