OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development
Open-access peer-reviewed journal
https://doi.org/10.64211/oidaijsd190523
Assess the Sustainability of Underserved Settlements based on Livelihood Assets in Jaffna Municipality and its Urban Fringe, Sri Lanka
Cavitha Thiliepan 1,*, Thennakoon, T.M.S.P.K 2
1 Department of Geography, University of Jaffna, Thirunelvely, Sri Lanka.
2 Department of Geography, Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.
2 International Center for Multidisciplinary Studies (ICMS), Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka.
∗ Corresponding authors: cavitha@univ.jfn.ac.lk
Volume 19, Issue 05, Pg. 325-356, 2026
Abstract: In many developing countries, ineffective land-use planning and unregulated urban expansion have accelerated the proliferation of underserved settlements, as clearly evident in Sri Lanka. These settlements have emerged as an informal yet indispensable supplement to inadequate formal housing systems, providing low-cost labour to urban economies and contributing notably to national Gross Domestic Product through extensive informal-sector activity. Nevertheless, their fragile livelihood assets and organically evolved, often congested spatial configurations position them among the most formidable impediments to sustainable urban development. Prioritizing the long-term sustainability of these settlements is therefore essential. Although Sri Lanka is committed to the Sustainable Development Goal of making cities “inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable,” empirical research on the sustainability of underserved settlements remains exceedingly limited. This study, undertaken within the Jaffna Municipality and its urban fringe, sought to evaluate the sustainability of underserved settlements through the framework of livelihood assets and to propose contextually appropriate strategies for their enhancement. The research employed both primary and secondary datasets. Due to the absence of an up-to-date public inventory of underserved settlements, an extensive field survey was conducted at the housing-unit level from August 2020 to April 2021 to identify and delineate these settlements. Primary data were subsequently gathered through a structured questionnaire administered to 341 households selected via stratified random sampling. These data were enriched through direct field observations; focus group discussions with community-based organizations (CBOs) and ground-level officers; and semi-structured interviews with administrative officials, local authorities, academics, and social activists. Secondary data were obtained from relevant government departments. Analytical procedures integrated spatial, descriptive, and inferential statistical techniques with qualitative assessments. SPSS facilitated quantitative analysis, while ArcGIS 10.4 supported spatial mapping and pattern analysis. Results revealed a strong and statistically significant relationship between livelihood assets and settlement sustainability. Physical, human, economic, and social capital were all positively correlated with sustainability (p ≤ 0.09). Pearson correlation coefficients indicate strong associations: physical capital (r = 0.936), human capital (r = 0.821), economic capital (r = 0.756), and social capital (r = 0.784). Impact assessment further showed that variations in sustainability were explained by 87.6% for physical capital, 67.4% for human capital, 57.1% for economic capital, and 61.5% for social capital. The study concludes that livelihood assets exert a substantial and positive influence on the sustainability of underserved settlements. It underscores the necessity of strengthening these assets while embedding underserved settlements within comprehensive spatial planning and sustainable development agendas. Such alignment is essential for mitigating entrenched socio-spatial disparities and progressing toward equitable, resilient, and inclusive urban environments. The findings provide critical insights for urban planners, policymakers, and development practitioners committed to sustainable urban transformation.
Keywords: Underserved settlements, Livelihood assets, Sustainability, Jaffna Municipality, Urban fringe.
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