Spatial aspects of demographic changes and residential development in medium and small towns in Sri Lanka with special reference to the Kegalle District

Abstract

This study deals with spatial aspects of demographic changes and residential development in medium and small towns in Sri Lanka, a Case Study of the District of Kegalla and its three selected urban settlements. The first chapter is concerned with the pattern of growth of urban settlements and trends of urbanization in the Sri Lankan context. It highlights the case for residential development as an important component of urban growth, and emphasises on locational considerations, threshold population in terms of utility services and appropriate criteria need to be used in residential development. The second chapter more specifically examines some aspects of housing development and the rate of population growth in major categories of urban settlements with special reference to medium and small towns. It attempts to show the significance of the problem at macro level in respect of potentials and constraints for housing development. . The third chapter comprises the empirical component of the Study. The district of Kegalla has been chosen as the unit of the Study. It has a foir number of different sizes of medium and small towns. The first three sections give the general description of the study area in terms of general background, population and settlements and demographic changes token place in the District. The fourth section indicated some constraints and potentials in respect of housing development. The fourth chapter, discusses the provision of public services, amenities, public utilities, etc. in the urban sector in the District with a view to identify potential urban settlements within a regional perspective. The first section attempts to identify the hierarchy of urban settlements using the.method of Scalogram. It also tries to identify institutional hierarchy and prepare functional indices showing the different levels of urban settlements in the hierarchy. The third section is devoted to a discussion of the significant features of economic development in these settlements and economic potential in the hinterland. The fifth chapter of the Study highlights some locational aspects of residential development in three locations. It justifies the selection of three locations for further residential development in terms of locational advantages, spatial development potentials etc. The sixth chapter is mainly concerned with the problem of identification of potential groups and the rationale of selection of a residential location from the points of view of such groups. The seventh chapter attempts to formulate basic guide lines and strategies towards residential development in medium and small towns in the Sri Lankan context. It also indicates the necessity to adopt a promotional urban policy in selected locations with regional development objectives. Chapter eight of the Study comprises of the conclusions and recommendations.