The Town & Country Planning (Amendment) Act, No. 49 of 2000 was approved unanimously by the Parliament of Sri Lanka on 9th August 2000 and received the official sanction over establishing of National Physical Planning Department to replace the former Town & Country Planning Department. Having taken necessary administrative steps required by this amendment the new National Physical Planning Department (NPPD) was formerly established and inaugurated by the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Public Utilities on 21st May 2001. It's purpose was, as specifically stated in the preamble to the Act,