Pilot City - Gampaha (Sri Lanka)

The City of Gampaha (7° 5’ – 7° 18’ N, 79° 50’ – 80° 02’ E), is a rapidly growing city in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. Among the 25 Districts of the Western Province, Gampaha is the second most populous district, with a total population of 2.1 million (12.3% of the total population in the country). The population density is high and estimated at 1,541 person’s sq. km, in comparison with the population density of the rest of the country which is 299 per sq. km. The annual population increase in the Gampaha district is 1.9%. Within the limits of the municipality it is estimated to be 2.6%. The total population in the city, is 63,335 (2001 census), in 33 GN divisions (smallest administrative unit). The city expansion embracing the 33 GN divisions took place around 2 years ago and it is estimated that 30% of the population has migrated from other districts (2001 census). Considering these indices, the municipal limits of Gampaha have reached a high level of urbanization.

The climate in Gampaha city is tropical, with an average annual temperature of 280 C and an annual rainfall of 2400 mm. Large areas still exist under agricultural production, paddy cultivation, taking a prominent place. However, the current, high input costs, and lack of labour, have forced many owners to abandon the paddy land. Further, the recent escalation of land prices are a threat to these cultivable land, and the government has brought in strict legislature to prevent paddy land being sold for commercial construction. More recently, under a presidential directive, incentives have been given to re-vitalise agricultural land, especially paddy cultivation. The incentives are directed through the Ministries of Agriculture and Agrarian Development.