On June 19, 2025, the Validation Workshop for the GEF-8 Climate Smart Sustainable Cities – Sri Lanka Child Project (SCIP 11290) was held at The View, Waters Edge Hotel, Battaramulla. This high-level convening marked a critical milestone in finalizing Sri Lanka’s ambitious plan to foster climate-resilient, inclusive urban development in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (SJK), while promoting nature-positive and low-emission solutions through integrated city planning.
Sri Lanka’s capital region, particularly the Greater Colombo Area, is undergoing rapid urbanization. From 1988 to 2022, the urban footprint expanded more than fourfold, from 98 km² to over 401 km². This growth has led to a 45% reduction in green spaces, elevated urban heat island effects, and a temperature increase of over 1.6°C in some areas. In SJK, wetlands, covering 26% of the municipality, play a vital role in flood management but are increasingly threatened by unsustainable development and poor waste management practices.
Sri Lanka’s transport sector is a significant contributor to GHG emissions and urban pollution. While public buses are essential for daily mobility, they account for only 1.5% of the total vehicle fleet and remain mostly diesel-powered. In 2022, road transport emissions accounted for 38.7% of all transport emissions and nearly 60% of Colombo’s air pollution. The sector consumes 70% of the country’s total fuel, most of which is imported, underscoring the urgent need for cleaner, sustainable urban mobility.
The Climate Smart Sustainable Cities Project aims to pilot integrated, data-driven, and climate-smart urban planning by connecting wetland conservation, renewable energy, and electric mobility. It seeks to:
Enhance multilevel governance structures
Strengthen institutional and policy frameworks
Promote inclusive, green urban development
Build a scalable model for sustainable city planning across Sri Lanka
The workshop aimed to validate and finalize essential components of the Full-Scale Project (FSP), including the Results Framework, Stakeholder Engagement Plan, Gender Action Plan, Implementation Arrangements, and Strategic Partnerships
The discussions were geared toward ensuring that the project design reflects national development goals, climate commitments, and stakeholder priorities.
The workshop was attended by 77 participants, representing government institutions, the private sector, civil society, and international development partners. Key attendees included Hon. Arosha Atapattu, Mayor of Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Municipal Council, Ms. Mansi Sachdev, International Consultant, UNEP, Mr. Manoj Kumar Muthumanickam, Project Specialist, UNEP, The project is led by the Climate Change Secretariat of the Ministry of Environment (MoE), with technical support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Janathakshan GTE Ltd. serves as the national consultancy partner, facilitating the project’s design and coordination in collaboration with MoE, UNEP, and other key stakeholders.
This validation workshop represents a significant step forward in designing a full-scale, impactful project that will enhance urban climate resilience while protecting critical ecosystems such as wetlands. The Sri Lanka Child Project under GEF-8 serves not only as a model for Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, but also as a blueprint for future climate-smart, inclusive cities across the nation.
As Sri Lanka advances its climate goals, this initiative underscores the importance of local leadership, cross-sector collaboration, and nature-based solutions in shaping a sustainable urban future.
