Conference Proceedings : “JANASEVANA” National ... - UN HABITAT

The Importance of a Regulatory Framework
A regulatory framework ensures public health, safety, comfort and convenience and maintains a pleasant
environment in neighborhood. It also gives people the ability to enjoy amenities and facilities, protection and security.
Technical Session 1: Discussion
The National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) recommended that people’s aspirations should to be taken into
account when developing social housing programmes. Enumerations should be conducted to ascertain these different
aspirations and how development can be undertaken within agreed guidelines. These aspects are important when
designing the location of settlements/ social housing programmes. It is also necessary to take into account health and
social requirements. It was mentioned that many urban problems can be solved through the creation of “mini towns”.
The need for social housing in Sri Lanka was emphasised during the discussion. Social housing is needed as the market
place excludes certain people – especially with regard to affordability and access to finances. Therefore, social housing
is needed to cater to marginalised people.
The concept of “gated communities” was discussed as this is a different aspect of housing schemes. Gated
communities have been created by the private sector and caters to upper income groups. It was mentioned that
housing can create divisions in society, and housing concepts such as gated communities are now being abolished in
many countries.
Social housing is a valuable concept. However, it should be developed within a particular framework, taking into
account people’s aspirations, and legal and regulatory frameworks. Integrated settlement plans that are focused on
the needs of the communities should be implemented. Issues such as the environment, safety, economic and
aesthetic aspects should also be carefully considered. The Ministry was requested to conduct an interactive workshop,
following the symposium, to take these concepts forward.
There was some criticism with regard to implementing housing schemes/programmes without taking into account
sustainability aspects. For example, giving people an eight foot approach road in a settlement does not work in the
long term as it creates issues of accessing the houses and causes traffic congestion. It was stressed that housing for
poor people should include all the basic amenities. Isolation of people in housing schemes was also identified as a
major problem. For example in some urban housing schemes in Sri Lanka, there have been instances where local
hooligans had taken over settlements and made life difficult for the householders.
In his sum‐up of Technical Session 1, The Chair, Professor Siripala Hettige mentioned that several complementary
perspectives can be integrated in social housing which includes economic aspects, quality of life and planning amongst
others. He concluded that professionals such as architects and engineers have an important role to play in developing
the social housing sector. However, he stressed that the people should not be forgotten and their desires and
aspirations should be taken into account when designing social housing programmes. Hence, wide consultations with
stakeholders and active public participation were recommended to take foward social housing programmes.
Technical Session 2: Current Development Strategies: Policies and Sustainability
Rapid urbanization and transformation from a rural to an urban life has created enormous challenges in relation to
housing, land and infrastructure facilities in Sri Lanka. Moreover, recent natural disasters and the recently concluded
conflict in the North and East have changed the housing agenda in the country. However, the absence of a housing
policy and a national strategy has caused negative impacts on the sustainability of housing initiatives. The
Government’s development policy framework “Mahinda Chintana: Vision for a New Sri Lanka, A Ten Year Horizon
Development Framework 2006 – 2016” recognizes the urgent need to “make certain that policies and strategies are
in place to ensure sustainable urban development”. One of the key objectives of the symposium was to revisit the
Conference Proceedings – National Housing Symposium 12