Small towns in rural development

Abstract

Sri Lanka is predominantly rural in population and land use characteristics. Further, its human settlements of the urban type are mainly of small and medium scale. In such a context the small and medium towns offer great potential not only in performing urban function but also in stimulating the development of their rural hinterland where such towns are located in predominantly rural regions. In the above circumstances the planning of small urban centres in achieving rural development has become timely and opportune in Sri Lanka. This dissertation is an effort to contribute to such planning knowledge. Its study has been carried out in seven chapters. Chapter One has described the National Perspective so as to provide the necessary background to a discussion in Chapter Two of the Urban Perspectives of lie dry zone with special reference to Anuradhapura and Pollonnaruwa Districts. Chapter Three has discussed the Theoretical Perceptions of planning and development of the rural sector. This has been followed in Chapter Four with an analysis of the Urban-Rural Relationships in the context of rural development. A Case Study of Two Small Towns comprising Kekirawa and Hingurakgoda in the Anuradhapura and Pollonnaruwa districts have been analysed in Chapter Five. The discussion in Chapter One to Five have enabled the establishment of Planning Guidelines for Small Town Development to achieve rural development comprised Chapter Six* Chapter Seven has the Conclusions and Recommendations arising from the entire study.