Reasons for rapid urbanization in Kadawatha, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Comparatively to other developing countries, the growth of cities and urban populations is very slow in Sri Lanka. Kadawtha was a small township on the Colombo-Kandy road and it has been rapidly developed during the last 20 years. This research discloses the reasons for rapid urbanization in Kadawatha town during the last 02 decades, 2000-2019. Especially, the Kadawatha has located within the Colombo megalopolis. The study was designed under the approaches of Urban Geography and especially concerned about morphological changes and expansion of services service locations of the town during the 20 years. Google images, satellite images, land use maps and published reports and documents of relevant data gathered for secondary data. Using questionnaires, focused group discussions, observations and key informant discussions were the main strategies to collect primary quantitative and qualitative data collections. According to the study, the expansion of the expressway network and Kadawatha expressway interchange is the main reason for the rapid urbanization. Expansion of medical facilities and newly established hospitals in Ragama junction near to Kadawatha, expansion of new bus stand, increasing the inmigration into Kadawatha and surrounding areas, newly established Kadawatha “Kandy” shopping mall and development plan of Colombo megalopolis are the other major reasons for Kadawath rapid urbanization.