Assessment of the Main Cities of the Eastern and Northern Provinces of Sri Lanka

The objective of the consultancy was to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the cities of Ampara, Batticaloa, and Trincomalee in the Eastern Province and Jaffna in the Northern Province, and to provide clear policy recommendations, Action Plans, and guidance on investment priorities for the sustainable development of those cities e.Gen carried out the following three major tasks for the cities of Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara in the Eastern province and the city of Jaffna in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka:Task 1: Rapid City Assessment: Gen prepared a quick social and economic diagnostic covering (i) the socioeconomic context, (ii) economic growth drivers and (iii) enablers of city competitiveness for the four cities in the Eastern and Northern Provinces based on existing documents and data.Task 2: Policy Notes and Action Plans:Gen authored Policy Notes which identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and potential threats to development and sustainability of each city. e.Gen also identified the market failures where the government could step in. Based on international best practices and global experiences, the Policy Notes also provided clear policy recommendations, outlined plans of action and guidance on investment priorities.Task 3: Workshops/ Consultation: e.Gen arranged three workshops to bring regional and international perspectives, to disseminate results, and to fine-tune the Policy Notes. e.Gen brought together experts in relevant areas, government officials, local representatives, private sector representatives (current and potential investors), and various stakeholders for an informed dialogue to enhance the study findings and to disseminate results. These workshops helped to identify the main strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and the early development vision of each of the cities.