Integrated spatial planning approach for disaster mitigation in Sri Lanka with an emphasis on landslides
Abstract
Description
Landslide is the most pressing environmental problem in the central & southern parts of Sri Lanka. It is estimated that there are about 12,500 square kilometers in the island prone to landslides (NBRO, 2008). At present, there are a number of government agencies involved in prevention and mitigation of landslide hazards. Even though the national, regional and local institutions have land-use plans, guidelines, regulations, but they are merely documents. It is necessary to control the land use development pertaining to human settlement expansion in such vulnerable regions. According to the Sri Lanka Urban Multi Hazard Disaster Mitigation Project 2003, the cost of preventing landslides is less than the cost of redressing the post event damages. Therefore the development of the country is necessary to be resilient to this nature of disasters.