UN-Habitat Sri Lanka

04/05/2026

Promoting Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture in Mullaitivu District

With funding from the Adaptation Fund, UN-Habitat Sri Lanka is supporting 250 farming households in Mullaitivu District to better adapt to climate change and improve their livelihoods.

A series of training programmes were conducted in April 2026 on climate resilient, sustainable agricultural methods and home gardening practices for farmers in the Welioya, Maritimepattu, and Puthukkudiyiruppu DS Divisions. These trainings were held in close partnership with the Ministry of Environment, District Secretariat, Mullaitivu, Department of Agriculture Sri Lanka and Farmer Organizations.

The trainings helped farmer groups to understand the impacts of climate change on agricultural production and learn simple adaptation measures such as better land use practices, water conservation techniques, and climate-smart farming methods.

Participants were also trained in nature-based soil management techniques such as composting, vermicomposting, and organic pest control.

This initiative, funded by the Build resilience to climate change and climate variability of vulnerable communities in Mullaitivu District of Sri Lanka Project, is expected to enhance household food security, increase agricultural productivity, and strengthen long-term climate resilience in farming communities.





Read more: https://tinyurl.com/2dm7hf6e

24/04/2026

Supporting families construct homes through the Indian Housing Project.

21/04/2026

With support from the Government of India, UN-Habitat Sri Lanka supported the construction of 1,615 resilient homes in Sri Lanka's plantation areas in the Central and Uva provinces. These houses have withstood disasters, including Cyclone Ditwah - proof of India's leadership in resilience building and our shared vision for safer communities.
India in Sri Lanka (High Commission of India, Colombo)

-HABITAT

16/04/2026

The 15-minute city is a transformative approach to how we live, work, and thrive in our communities. 🌳🚴🚌

The 15-minute city is a transformative approach to how we live, work, and thrive in our communities:

✅ Proximity-focused design: access to essentials within a 15-minute walk, bike ride, or short public transport journey

✅ Equitable resource distribution: guaranteeing all residents have fair access to opportunities and services

✅ Sustainable urban regeneration: aligning with SDG 11 for sustainable cities and communities

✅ People-centered approach: prioritizing human needs over car-centric infrastructure

This concept enables more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban environments where communities can flourish while reducing our environmental footprint.

As urban professionals and city builders, how are you incorporating these principles into planning and development strategies?

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Join us at the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13)- where global leaders, urban planners, and communities converge to co-create inclusive, safe, and resilient cities for everyone.

To register, search "World Urban Forum" or visit www.wuf.unhabitat.org

08/04/2026

As part of its mangrove restoration programme, UN-Habitat in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, District Secretariat, Mullaitivu and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) has commenced planting mangrove saplings in Nayaru lagoon in District to address coastal erosion, ecosystem degradation, and increasing climate-related vulnerabilities affecting the area. Over 15,000 mangrove saplings have already been planted through this imitative.

Active community participation, particularly women’s leadership, is a key feature of this programme. Members of the Nayaru Fishermen’s Society and various youth groups are engaged in nurturing seedlings in specialized mangrove nurseries, earning stipends for their work while building technical skills in ecosystem restoration and management. Once the seedlings reach optimal growth, the plants are transported to Nayaru lagoon and planted along the Nayaru–Pulliyamunai rural road by community members under the technical guidance by the Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management. The aim is to plant 50,000 saplings across the lagoon's vulnerable fringes, over the next 16 months.

By combining scientific restoration techniques with the traditional knowledge of the Mullaitivu community, the programme is on track to transform the Nayaru coastline into a thriving, self-sustaining "green shield" for future generations.

This initiative is part of the project “Build Resilience to Climate Change and Climate Variability of Vulnerable Communities in Mullaitivu District, Sri Lanka” funded through a USD 2 million grant from the Adaptation Fund.

06/04/2026

Cities thrive with green, inclusive public spaces. Here’s why investing in nature in cities is a game changer 🌿

"What a big, beautiful motorway in the middle of this city" (no one said - ever).

Nor has anyone ever visited a city to marvel at its overflowing cement structures.

Cities thrive with green, inclusive public spaces. Here’s why investing in nature in cities is a game changer 👇

💚 Health & well-being

Access to green spaces reduces stress, improves mental health, and encourages physical activity. Studies show that exposure to urban nature directly supports healthier lifestyles and overall well-being

🌡️ Cooling our cities

Trees, parks, and green corridors help lower urban temperatures - critical as heatwaves intensify. Nature-based solutions act as natural air conditioners in dense urban areas.

🌍 Climate resilience

Green spaces absorb rainwater, reduce flooding risks, and restore ecosystems - key for adapting to climate impacts. Cities worldwide are already scaling these solutions to build resilience

🤝 Stronger communities

Public spaces bring people together, fostering inclusion, social cohesion, and safer neighborhoods. They are essential for equitable urban development.

🚶Liveable, people-centred cities

Well-designed public spaces promote walkability, reduce pollution, and improve quality of life - making cities more attractive and sustainable.

Investing in nature is far from a luxury. We're much better off understanding it as a core urban infrastructure for healthier, more resilient, and more inclusive cities.

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Join us at the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13)- where global leaders, urban planners, and communities converge to co-create inclusive, safe, and resilient cities for everyone.

To register, search "World Urban Forum" or head to wuf.unhabitat.org

30/03/2026

UN-Habitat in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, District Secretariat, Mullaitivu, Department of Agrarian Development and Community-Based Organizations, is improving 16 minor irrigation infrastructure systems through the project “Build resilience to climate change and climate variability of vulnerable communities in Mullaitivu District of Sri Lanka”.

Funded by the Adaptation Fund, these interventions aim to strengthen water security and agricultural productivity of 1,490 farmers, including 224 female farmers.

To officially commence the interventions, work initiation meetings were conducted by UN-Habitat across District, earlier this month. Rehabilitation work was formally initiated, and community monitoring teams were formed for each irrigation system.

The planned work includes the rehabilitation of seven irrigation tanks, four anicuts, three irrigation channels, a downstream development and a saltwater protection bund, all designed to benefit the district’s farming communities.

Rehabilitation of minor irrigation infrastructure has been identified as vital to directly address both water insecurity as well as climate change risks in Mullaitivu district.

Read more about this initiative:
https://tinyurl.com/45xyzkuz

26/03/2026

Providing communities access to safe, drinking water 💧

In Liyanwala Pahalagama village in Sri Lanka’s Nuwara Eliya District, access to safe drinking water was once uncertain. For many families, collecting water meant long walks and lost time – time away from farms, households and children’s education.

Today, that daily burden has eased for more than 785 residents.

With funding from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), UN-Habitat has established a gravity-fed community water supply system in the village, bringing treated, pipe-borne water directly to homes and public buildings.

Read more: https://loom.ly/sDIjsJ4.

19/03/2026

🌊 When Mangroves Protect Communities… 🌳

🌊 When Mangroves Protect Communities… 🌳

In Nayaru Lagoon, Mullaitivu District, mangroves are more than trees—they’re natural shields against storms, protectors of fish habitats, and lifelines for local communities.

After years of conflict and environmental damage, these vital ecosystems were at risk. Today, UN-Habitat Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Environment, local CBOs, and the Adaptation Fund are restoring two hectares of mangroves—with women leading the way in nurseries and reforestation efforts. 🌱

"Every sapling we plant strengthens both our community and our environment," says Mrs. Chandrabala Selvi of the Nayaru Fishermen’s Society.

This International Day of Forests, we celebrate locally led action that protects nature, strengthens resilience, and supports sustainable livelihoods.

📖 Read the full story: https://bit.ly/4uwAswU

16/03/2026

UN-Habitat Sri Lanka held its second capacity building workshop for key stakeholders of the Resilient Settlements for the Urban Poor flagship programme (also known as RISE-UP) in Colombo recently. This full day interactive workshop focused on two key aspects: Gender Equality, Disability & Social Inclusion in Urban Climate Resilience Projects and GIS Analysis for Multilayered Vulnerability Assessments.

The sessions were designed specifically to enhance the technical capacities of government, local government and civil society partners in preparing climate action plans and MVAs. Sixteen participants representing the Colombo Municipal Council, Wattala-Mabola Urban Council, Divisional Secretariat of Colombo, Divisional Secretariat of Wattala, Sri Lanka Red Cross Society and Global Youth Biodiversity Network - Sri Lanka participated in the training programme.

This workshop is the second in a series of capacity-building sessions leading towards supporting the Municipal Council Colombo and Wattala Mabole Urban Council to develop bankable climate action proposals, thereby enabling the two cities to tackle vulnerabilities related to climate change, biodiversity loss, and unplanned urbanization.

The RISE-UP Project is funded by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Sub-Fund under the UN Peace and Development Trust Fund and is implemented by UN-HABITAT from 2024-2027.

Read more:
https://tinyurl.com/mr2jtp6t

12/03/2026

UN-Habitat Sri Lanka together with the National Water Supply & Drainage Board (NWSDB) and UNI Consultancy Services recently conducted preliminary field assessments to check the water quality of the Kelani River as part of the “Safe and Resilient Water Supply for Western Cities - Integrating Climate Resilience into Water Safety Plans of the Ambatale and Biyagama Water Supply Schemes” project.

This project is funded through a USD 469,232 grant from the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure's trust fund, IRAF, with financial support from the Government of India.

The Kelani River provides water to over 2 million residents in the cities of Colombo, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte and Kelaniya. The main aim of the field assessments was to identify pollution hotspots in the catchment, and to scientifically monitor the water quality across seasonal variations.

The team tested water samples from selected sampling points of the Kelani River and some of its main tributaries. Based on the initial findings from these assessments, exact water sampling locations will be finalized, and stakeholder meetings will be conducted to gain more understanding of the water quality of the Kelani River.

Read more on this initiative: https://tinyurl.com/25hu3bkp