The document discusses urban development in Sri Lanka post civil war and how citizens have been negatively impacted. It notes that while infrastructure improvements were prioritized, the needs and participation of citizens were not. As a result, involuntary displacement negatively affected access to land, basic services, and schools for the most vulnerable. There was also a lack of opportunity for citizens to voice opinions or challenge decisions made about development projects. The document calls for placing citizens at the core of development and making governments more accountable to citizens.

1. Nayana Godamunne
Senior Researcher
Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA) Colombo

2. 
Place citizens at core of development

Recognise that cities are for citizens

3. 
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Post war context – drive to catch up for lost time
Urban vision - ‘leap forward’ to achieve ‘World
Class City’ status
Focus - improving connectivity and infrastructure
Colombo Metro Region - the centre of current
urban development model

4. 
Symposium - ‘Reimagining Development’ Colombo, Sri Lanka, December 2012

Focus Group Discussion - Citizens negatively
impacted by urban development projects

5. 
Land

Basic services

Citizens participation

Accountability

6. Land acquisition, Involuntary
Displacement, Commons

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Land conceived as a financial asset, loss of
social value
City development defined by aesthetic appeal
Public spaces re defined to encourage specific
life styles
Tension between state and citizenry
Tension between right to the city and right to a
lifestyle

7. Water, sanitation, schooling
 Living conditions of the poorest segments not
improved
 Access to schools hampered by involuntary
displacement


‘Development’ model not inclusive
‘Development’ for whom?

8. 
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
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Few opportunities to voice opinions
Lack of opportunity to challenge and dissent
Lack of information about decisions made
How do we make governments accountable?
How do we ensure rights are protected?

9. Need to take our City back

Embrace diversity
◦ Don’t polarize communities and create’ them’
and ‘us’ culture
◦ Let there be no losers
◦ Public spaces for greater interactions

10. Strengthen relationships between citizens and
local authorities
◦ Improve flow of information
◦ Create trust
Make governments accountable
◦ Vibrant civil society : peoples’ organizations to demand
rights
◦ Voter Education