SEVANATHA was established in the year of 1989 as a local NGO in Colombo Sri Lanka. It was founded by a group of grassroots human settlement activists, lead by Mr. K. A. Jayaratne, Urban Planner, to assist urban poor communicates to improve their shelter and livelihoods
SEVANATHA is making significant progress in formulation of passive cooling solutions for the selected houses under the pilot project, "A Regional Approach to Passive Cooling Solutions for Urban Poor Households in Asia." This initiative is currently underway in Colombo City, Sri Lanka, aims to enhance the thermal comfort of the houses in vulnerable communities through sustainable and cost-effective passive cooling solutions.
The “Collective Housing: Asia Hub for the Production of Habitat” project was initiated by the Geneva Federation for Cooperation (FGC), Switzerland, in collaboration with UrbaMonde. The project is being implemented across Asia by the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights (ACHR), based in Bangkok, in partnership with national networks in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka. This two-year initiative, launched in January 2024, aims to promote inclusive and community-driven housing solutions. In Sri Lanka, ACHR has designated the Community Livelihood Action Facilitating Network (CLAFNet) as the national implementing partner. CLAFNet has, in turn, partnered with SEVANATHA to carry out selected project activities under a formal agreement.
The Colombo Settlements Survey - 2023 (CSS) is a city-wide initiative to update the 2012 Underserved Settlements (USS) Profile in Colombo. Conducted by SEVANATHA with the contribution of the Colombo Municipal Council and funded by the Foundation Open Society Institute (FOSI) in Switzerland, and coordinated by the Center for a Smart Future Pvt. (Colombo Urban Lab), CSS aims to gain current insights into underserved settlements, fostering inclusive urban development. Through transparent and data-driven methods, CSS aims to address the challenges and prioritize the needs of underserved communities, striving for a more equitable city.
SEVANATHA Urban Resource Centre (SURC), in partnership with the Moratuwa Municipal Council (MMC) and with generous funding support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under its Clean Cities, Blue Ocean (CCBO) program, proudly announces the successful completion of the 3R Action Plan for Zero Plastic Waste in Moratuwa (3RAP) project. Spanning from July 2022 to June 2024, this transformative initiative has laid the groundwork for a more sustainable, cleaner, and plastic-free Moratuwa by 2035.
