A survey conducted by the National Physical Planning Department revealed that the population in urban areas has increased to 44.57 percent, said Urban Development, Housing Minister and Chief Government Whip Prasanna Ranatunga.

The relavent report was handed over to the Minister yesterday at the Parliament complex by the Director General of the National Physical Planning Department, Gamini Hewage.

This survey was conducted following the instructions of Minister Ranatunga.

Ubanization in a country changes its decisions. The last survey of urbanization was conducted in 2012 and it was 18.2 percent at that time.

Urbanization was calculated while considering facts such as population density, supermarkets,  clothing centres, filling stations, banks, private schools, the number of private hospitals and the number of storied apartments in a Grama Niladhari area, the percentage of houses on rent or lease and the number of people who engage in employment, except in the agriculture sector in a local council-governed area within a 10-kilometre distance.

According to the survey, Colombo has been identified as having the highest percentage of urban population, which is 96.74 percent, while 76.76 percent were recorded in the Gampaha district. 

Also, 67.28 percent of the urban population was recorded in the Jaffna District, and the minimum percentage of the urban population was recorded in the Mullaitivu District, which was 2.84 percent. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)