The Urban Settlement Development Authority has implemented a human development programme inspired by the concept of  community self help in nine districts, namely. Colombo, Hambantota, Ampara, Trincomalee, Anuradhapura, Putttalam, Galle, Kalutara and Nuwara Eliya Districts. This programme specially focuses on low income communities. The objective is to uplift the socio-economic, political, and cultural conditions of life faced by them to a qualitatively higher level.

For this purpose, 370  community based organizations operating in an equal number of urban settlements are used to play a catalytic role in briging forth much needed changes.