Sustainable Cities and Communities: Making Sri Lankan Cities Inclusive, Safe, Resilient and Sustainable

Urban areas are where the majority of people reside, commonly referred to
as cities or towns, depending on various classifications. The world is significantly suffering from a higher rate of urbanisation, and currently, worldwide cities accommodate a population of nearly 4 billion people. The prevalence of urban migration patterns further proves the continuity of demographic shifts towards urban cities. Cities are centres of innovation and economic growth, but they also face challenges like poverty, inequality and environmental degradation. Cities are not future-proof yet for a mix of complex, interconnected reasons - many of them social, political, economic, and technological. Creating safe, resilient and sustainable cities requires coordinated investments, climate-resilient infrastructure and inclusive governance. The relationship between cities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is crucial, especially as the world continues to urbanise rapidly. Goal 11 promotes sustainable urban development to create inclusive, safe, and resilient cities. Most urban areas in Sri Lanka have faced environmental problems, which are partly linked to development activities and high population densities. Within the context of progress relating to SDG 11, this chapter discusses the current state of the art, and related recommendations on the following themes: Local disaster risk reduction strategies gain momentum; Cities and their governance; Inclusive urban planning; Financing national policies for urban settings; and Displacement and relocation context. Sri Lanka’s rapidly urbanising landscape offers both a challenge and an opportunity: if planned through the lens of anticipatory adaptation, cities can transform from risk hotspots into resilient, inclusive, and climate-smart settlements aligned with SDG 11.