President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday (15) launched a National Physical Plan that will guide the country's development up to 2030.

The first National Physical Plan, to be launched after independence in 1948, will direct all physical development activities and provides the required guidelines for the development of the country.

The President has carefully considered the need for an operational plan to take the country forward and therefore the requirement of a National Physical Policy was identified.

The plan aims to formulate National Physical Policies, Plans and Strategies and to ensure and monitor the implementation of such National Policies and Plans through regional and local plans with the objective of promoting and regulating integrated planning of economic, social, physical and environmental aspects of land and territorial waters of Sri Lanka.

The policy was prepared by the National Physical Planning Department of Sri Lanka in accordance with the provisions in terms of Section 03 of the Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act No.49 of 2000.