Context
The chart above shows the evolution of street network disconnectedness of the most connected and most disconnected cities in Sri Lanka, for both new street additions (left) and the aggregate street network (right).
Sri Lanka in context: Street-network sprawl of new development
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Sri Lanka rose steadily. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Sri Lanka, we can consider three of its most populous regions: Gampaha, Kandy and Galle. Out of the three regions, Gampaha and Galle do not follow the same trend as the country. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Gampaha was at its lowest in 1976-1990. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Galle was at its lowest in 1976-1990.
How do development practices in Sri Lanka fare in comparison to others in the world? Most recently in 2006-2020, street construction in Sri Lanka was the 168th-most disconnected out of the 179 countries in the world. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other countries in the world, street construction in Sri Lanka has become more connected. Sri Lanka ranked 151st in 1975, 145th in 1976-1990, 159th in 1991-2005 and 168th in 2006-2020.
The largest city in Sri Lanka is Colombo [Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte], with a population of 4523500 people. Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Colombo [Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte] as of 2020, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 6.11, which is very sprawly. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Colombo [Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte] rose steadily.
Sri Lanka in context: Aggregate street-network sprawl
As of 2020, the city with the most disconnected street network in Sri Lanka is Badulla with an SNDi of 7.41, which is very sprawly. Conversely, the most connected city is Kalmunai with an SNDi of 1.89, which is very well-connected. See these two cities’ trends in the above graph, or dive deeper into each: Kalmunai, Badulla.
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Sri Lanka rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Sri Lanka, we can consider three of its most populous regions: Gampaha, Kandy and Galle. Out of the three regions, Gampaha and Galle do not follow the same trend as the country. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Gampaha was at its lowest in 1976-1990. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Galle was at its lowest in 1976-1990.
To date, Sri Lanka is the 164th-most disconnected out of the 179 countries in the world. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other countries in the world, the street network in Sri Lanka has become more connected. Sri Lanka ranked 151st in 1975, 153rd in 1976-1990, 157th in 1991-2005 and 164th in 2006-2020.
The largest city in Sri Lanka is Colombo [Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte], with a population of 4523500 people. Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Colombo [Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte] as of 2020, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 6.11, which is very sprawly. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Colombo [Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte] rose steadily.