Cementing Hegemony

Urban renewal in post-war Colombo is not only transforming the city’s physical but also its political landscape. A visual landscape marked by aesthetic enhancement, “world-class” spaces and cleanliness is normalising militarisation, social exclusion, ethno-nationalism and erosion of democracy. The sight of the military rather than the municipality at work is now part of the city’s (and the country’s) new visual, spatial and political order. Market-friendly militarisation is driving Colombo’s development and beautification leading to segregation, rapid financialisation of land, and forced displacement.

Since the end of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka in 2009, Colombo, its urbis prima, has witnessed significant changes. The most visible signs include road improvements, flood control measures, development of new parks, the launch of several high-value commercial and residential real-estate developments, and redevelopment of “heritage” spaces including colonial era public buildings. Presiding over this is Gotabhaya Rajapakse, presidential sibling and secretary, Defence and Urban Development – the Urban Development Authority (UDA) was brought under the Ministry of Defence (MoD) shortly after the war.