The Accelerated Mahaweli Development Programme represents Sri Lanka's largest investment in recent times and t.hfs is expected to settle 825,000 people. These people will require several urban cent res for the programme development of the project area. The importance of urban settlement planning has been recognised by the Mahaweli Development Board and also by the Mahaweli Authority. In this connection, they have already identified the locations for urban centres and have established some urban centres in the Mahaweli area, At present, the urban. sector has received inadequate attention, specially the social dimension in planning and therefore, the plans require evaluation and suitable ~endments. Hence, this dissertation presents an evaluation of the recommended urban settlement planning in the Mahaweli Development Board.