Singapore partners Sri Lanka in urban planning program

Tuesday, 7 April 2015 01:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

SINGAPORE: The Republic of Singapore is set to partner Sri Lanka in the development and management of infrastructure in the South Asian nation. The Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE), Temasek Foundation, the Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC) and Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Urban Development, Water Supply and Drainage on Monday signed a collaboration document in Colombo, the local agencies said in a joint news release. Singapore will share lessons, experiences and best practices in urban development from a whole-of-Government perspective in the two-year partnership.

The program – supported by Temasek Foundation with a grant of S$ 430,068 – aims to help the Sri Lankan government in developing an integrated master plan and in the following areas: housing design and community building; master plan review and government land sales; and water infrastructure and greening. CLC will conduct a series of workshops to train up to 125 officials from the relevant ministries and municipal councils in Sri Lanka, using knowledge and principles of Singapore’s urban development experience. The first workshop is being held in Colombo from Monday to Wednesday. “Through the workshops and interactions with Singapore’s urban experts and practitioners, we hope to support our counterparts in Sri Lanka in their urban challenges, and at the same time, hear and learn from them as well,” said Julian Goh, Director for Capability Development at CLC. The Sri Lankan Government has placed a high priority on the redevelopment of urban infrastructure in the cities of Colombo, Galle and Kandy.