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United National Human Settlement Program popularly known as UN-HABITAT was established in 1978, to prevent and ameliorate problems stemming from massive urban growth, especially among at cities of the developing world, at the middle of the last century only one third of the world’s population lived in cities. Just fifty years later this proportion has risen to one half and will continue to grow into two thirds or six billion people by 2050. As the world becomes increasingly urban, the policy makers should be able realize the role of the city in national development and the need to face emerging challenges. It is also implement to realize that achieving sustainable development and alleviating poverty require integration of economic, social and political objectives into a coherent overall to framework. UN-HABITAT has been offering help for policy makers and other stakeholders evaluate urban conditions and trends to articulate strategies that will strengthen their cities socially and economically.  

UN-HABITAT strategic vision also offers a way forward by targeting means for implementing programs and projects in a proper and practical relationship to global priorities. UN-HABITAT work programs comprise productive strategies for knowledge management, linking of normative guidelines to field operation, innovative financing for pro-poor investments, partnerships within a framework of complementary support. These strategies are also oriented towards key objectives in the fights against urban poverty and achievement of sustainable urbanization. 

In Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Cooperation (SLLRDC) of the Ministry of Housing and Plantation Infrastructure (My of H & P I) has been implementing the Greater Colombo Flood Control and Environmental Improvement Project (GCFC&EIP) with financial assistance from the Government of Japan (Official Development Assistance- ODA) since 1992. In early 2000, funds were provided to implement Lunawa Environment Improvement and Community Development Project (LEI&CDP), as a continuation of activities commenced in GCFC&EIP. The LEI&CD Project has proposed an integrated partnership approach to alleviate direct and indirect problems caused by regular flooding to communities in the Lunawa Lake catchment.

The loan agreement (SL-P73) between the GOSL and JBIC was signed in December 2001 for the implementation of the Project within six years from January 2002. The objective of the project is to mitigate the flood damage by improving urban drainage and canal systems and to contribute to the improvement of living conditions of people in the Dehiwela –Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council in Lunawa North and the Moratuwa Municipal Council in Lunawa South. 

The Project is comprised of two main components, Component 1: Storm Water Drainage Improvement Component and Component 2: Community Development (Resettlement and Upgrading of Under-served settlements) Component which are intrinsically linked with each other and hence to be executed as a single entity in this Project. Two Project Implementation Units, I.e, PMU 1 Technical and PMU II- Human Settlement and Community Development implement these two components. Two urban Local Authorities, Dehiwela –Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council and the Moratuwa Municipal Council, within which the project area is located, are also responsible for implementing the project in their respective area of authority.    

A partnership agreement has been reached between LEI&CDP for an advisory service to implement. In terms of the agreement UN-HABITAT is responsible for facilitating the implementation process of the project, especially in component two: Community Development (Resettlement and Upgrading of Under-served settlements) Component, through consultancy and advisory services provided to the project implementation unit and the Urban Local Authorities (ULAs).

Updated Oct 07, 2005.  ©2005 LEI&CDP, Inc.  All Rights Reserved