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.
