National Building Research Organisation

Mr   Kishan Sugathapala

Head, Human Settlement Division

Human Settlements Division (HSD) of NBRO was established in 1988 then Landslide Hazard Mapping Project required a multi façade approach. However, during this period capacities were developed on different based disciplines such as Town Planning, Architecture, and Mapping with Geography and Estate Management and Valuation backgrounds. Due to increase in staff turnover various projects were conducted. Since NBRO was move among various ministries the mandate apart from the building research changed during period which led to scientist and other technical staff acquiring different secondary disciplines.

HSD are no exception, solid waste management, housing: especially planning, layout, designing, cost effective techniques, economics of housing, mapping work related to landslide including land use, human settlement and land form map preparation, human settlements studies of EIAs, disaster risk reduction various sectors including housing, local government, provincial councils, and settlement planning, are some of the capacities acquired during this period. Vision of the HSD is to become the leader in creating safer human settlements intern making safer communities.