Administrative divisions of Sri Lanka

Last updated
Administrative divisions of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka adm-2 location map.svg
Administrative map of Sri Lanka
Location Sri Lanka
Subdivisions

Sri Lanka is divided into 9 provinces, which are further subdivided into 25 districts. Districts are further subdivided into Divisional Secretary's Divisions. Each DS Division is divided into Grama Niladhari Divisions (village officer divisions).

Contents

History

The country was first divided into several administrative units during the Anuradhapura Kingdom. The kingdom was divided into three provinces; Rajarata , Ruhuna and Malaya Rata . These were further subdivided into smaller units called rata. [1] Over time, the number of provinces increased, but the second-level administrative division continued to be the rata. However, with the country eventually being divided into more than one kingdom and with foreign colonial missions landing and taking parts of the country under their control, this structure began to change. The territory of the Kotte Kingdom was organized into four disavas, which were further subdivided into forty korales. The korales had their own civil and military officials with a small militia. The Jaffna kingdom appears to have had a similar administrative structure to this with four provinces. [2]

When the Portuguese took over parts of the country after their arrival in 1505, [3] they maintained more or less the same administrative structure followed by Sri Lankan rulers. [4] During the Dutch rule in the country, the terrain under their control was divided into three administrative divisions. These were subdivided into disavas as in earlier systems. [5] The British initially continued this system, [6] but following reforms in 1796 to 1802, the country was divided according to ethnic composition. [7] [8] This was abolished by the Colebrook–Cameron reforms in 1833 and a legislative council was created, [9] making the island a politically and administratively single unit. Five provinces were created, later expanded into nine, and these were subdivided into twenty-one districts. These districts were administered by officials known as Government Agents or Assistant Government Agents. [7]

In 1955, the district replaced the province as the country's main administrative unit. [10] Ampara District was created in April 1961, [11] [12] followed by the creation of Mullaitivu and Gampaha districts in September 1978 [13] through a new constitution, which also reintroduced the province as the main administrative unit. [14] The last district to be created was Kilinochchi in February 1984, [15] and the current constitution (that of 1978) states that the territory of Sri Lanka consists of 25 administrative districts. These districts may be subdivided or amalgamated by a resolution of the Parliament of Sri Lanka. [16]

Summary

LevelGroup nameTypeNo.
1 Provinces
පළාත
மாகாணம்		N/A9
2 Districts
දිස්ත්‍රි‌ක්‌ක
மாவட்டம்		N/A25
3 Divisional Secretary's Divisions N/A339
4 Grama Niladhari Divisions N/A14,018

List of subdivisions

Provinces

Provinces are first level administrative divisions in Sri Lanka. They were first established by the British rulers of Ceylon in 1833. Over the next century most of the administrative functions were transferred to the districts, the second level administrative division. By the middle of the 20th century the provinces had become merely ceremonial. This changed in 1987 when, following several decades of increasing demand for a decentralization, the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. [17] [18] Currently there are nine provinces.

MapCodeNameArea
(km2)		Population [19] Website
CP Central Province 5,6742,556,774 cp.gov.lk
EP Eastern Province 9,9961,547,377 ep.gov.lk
NC North Central Province 10,7141,259,421 nc.gov.lk
NP Northern Province 8,8841,060,023 np.gov.lk
NW North Western Province 7,8122,372,185 nw.gov.lk
SG Sabaragamuwa 4,9021,919,478 sg.gov.lk
SP Southern Province 5,5592,465,626 sp.gov.lk
UP Uva 8,4881,259,419 up.gov.lk
WP Western Province 3,7095,837,294 wpc.gov.lk

Districts

A map of all Sri Lankan Provinces, Districts, and Divisional Secretary's Division. Sri Lanka divisions.png
A map of all Sri Lankan Provinces, Districts, and Divisional Secretary's Division.

Districts are the second-level administrative divisions. There are 25 districts organized into 9 provinces. [20] Each district is administered under a District Secretary, [21] who is appointed by the central government. [22] The main tasks of the District Secretariat involve coordinating communications and activities of the central government and Divisional Secretariats. The District Secretariat is also responsible for implementing and monitoring development projects at the district level and assisting lower-level subdivisions in their activities, [23] as well as revenue collection and coordination of elections in the district. [24] A district is divided into a number of Divisional Secretary's Divisions (commonly known as DS divisions), which are in turn subdivided into Grama Niladhari Divisions. [25] There are 256 DS divisions in the country. [20]

Divisional Secretary's Divisions

Grama Niladhari Divisions

See also

Notes

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Province, Sri Lanka</span> Province of Sri Lanka

    The Western Province is one of the nine provinces of Sri Lanka, the first level administrative division of the country. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but did not have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. Western Province is the most densely populated province in the country and is home to the legislative capital Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte as well as to Colombo, the nation's administrative and business center.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Province, Sri Lanka</span> Province of Sri Lanka

    The Southern Province of Sri Lanka is one of the nine provinces of Sri Lanka, the first level administrative division of the country. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but did not have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. It is the 7th largest province by area and is home to 2.5 million people, the 3rd most populated province. The province is bordered by Sabaragamuwa Province and Uva Province to the North, Eastern Province to the Northeast, Western Province to the Northwest and the Indian Ocean to the South, West and East. The Province's capital is Galle.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Provinces of Sri Lanka</span> First-level administrative divisions of Sri Lanka

    Provinces are the first level administrative divisions of Sri Lanka. Currently, Sri Lanka is divided into 9 provinces. Each province is further divided into districts, which are further divided into divisional secretariats.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Uva Province</span> Province of Sri Lanka

    The Uva Province is one of the nine provinces of Sri Lanka. The province has an area of 8,500 km2 and a population of 1,266,463, making it the 2nd least populated province. The provincial capital is Badulla.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Province, Sri Lanka</span> Province in Sri Lanka

    The Eastern Province is one of the nine provinces of Sri Lanka, the first level administrative division of the country. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but did not have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was temporarily merged with the Northern Province to form the North Eastern Province. The capital of the province is Trincomalee. Kalmunai is the largest and most populous city of Eastern Province.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Districts of Sri Lanka</span> Second-level administrative divisions of Sri Lanka

    Districts are the second level administrative divisions of Sri Lanka, preceded by provinces. Sri Lanka has 25 districts organized into 9 provinces. Districts are further divided into a number of divisional secretariats, which are in turn subdivided into 14,022 grama niladhari divisions. There are 331 DS divisions in Sri Lanka.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Gampaha District</span> Administrative District in Western, Sri Lanka

    Gampaha District is one of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka, the second level administrative division of the country. It is the second most populous district of Sri Lanka after Colombo District. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The capital of the district is the town of Gampaha. The district was carved out of the northern part of Colombo District in September 1978.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Kalutara District</span> Administrative District in Western, Sri Lanka

    Kalutara District is one of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka, the second level administrative division of the country. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The capital of the district is the city of Kalutara .

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Matara District</span> Administrative District in Southern Province, Sri Lanka

    Matara is a district in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. It is one of 25 districts of Sri Lanka, the second level administrative division of the country. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Ampara District</span> Administrative District in Eastern, Sri Lanka

    Ampara District is one of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka, the second-level administrative divisions of the country. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The capital of the district is the town of Ampara. The district was carved out of the southern part of Batticaloa District in April 1961.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Colombo District</span> Administrative District in Western, Sri Lanka

    Colombo District is one of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka, the second level administrative division of the country. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The capital of the district is the city of Colombo. The district of Colombo was officially recorded in 2016 as having the highest income on average, per household.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaffna District</span> Administrative District in Northern, Sri Lanka

    Jaffna District is one of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka, the second level administrative division of the country. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The capital of the district is the city of Jaffna.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Kilinochchi District</span> Administrative District in Northern, Sri Lanka

    Kilinochchi District is one of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka, the second level administrative division of the country. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The capital of the district is the town of Kilinochchi.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Mullaitivu District</span> Administrative District in Northern, Sri Lanka

    Mullaitivu District is one of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka, the second level administrative division of the country. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The capital of the district is the town of Mullaitivu.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Vavuniya District</span> Administrative District in Northern, Sri Lanka

    Vavuniya District is one of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka, the second level administrative division of the country. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The capital of the district is the city of Vavuniya.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Divisional secretariats of Sri Lanka</span> Third-level administrative divisions of Sri Lanka

    The districts are further divided into administrative sub-units known as divisional secretariats. They were originally based on the feudal counties, the korales and ratas. Divisional secretariats are the third-level administrative divisions of the country and there are currently 331 divisional secretariats in Sri Lanka.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Province, Sri Lanka</span> Province of Sri Lanka

    The Central Province is one of the nine provinces of Sri Lanka. The province has an area of 5,674 km2 and a population of 2,421,148, making it the 2nd most populated province. The city of Kandy is the capital of the province.

    Kandy Four Gravets and Gangawata Korale Divisional Secretariat is a Divisional Secretariat of Kandy District, of Central Province, Sri Lanka.

    Native headmen system was an integral part of the administration of the island of Ceylon under the successive European colonial powers, namely the Portuguese Empire, the Dutch East India Company and the British Empire. Native headmen or leaders were appointed by the European colonial administrators to function as intermediates between the Europeans and the native populous. During different periods through this system these headmen functioned in military, policing, administrative and ceremonial capacities. They served as translators, revenue collectors and wielded quasi-judicial powers. Much of the system evolved and changed over time until some of the last vestiges of it were removed in the post-independent Ceylon.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Walapane</span> Town in Sri Lanka

    Walapane is a town located in Nuwara Eliya District of Sri Lanka. It is a high country area with many green mountains. It was called Wathtumulla in the past. The name Watumulla derived from the former tea factory which was located in the heart of the Walapane town and now demolished since the production of Wattumulla Plantation declined. Walapane is administered by the government of *Sri Lanka through *Walapane Divisional Secretariat.

    References

    1. ↑ Siriweera 2004, p. 91.
    2. ↑ Yogasundaram 2006, p. 170.
    3. ↑ Hewavissenti, Panchamee (3 February 2008). "Episodes of colonised history". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka) . Archived from the original on 7 February 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
    4. ↑ Yogasundaram 2006, p. 168.
    5. ↑ Yogasundaram 2006, p. 195.
    6. ↑ Yogasundaram 2006, p. 214.
    7. 1 2 Yogasundaram 2006, p. 258.
    8. ↑ Peebles 2006, p. 48.
    9. ↑ Peebles 2006, p. 52.
    10. ↑ Peebles 2006, p. 110.
    11. ↑ "Overview". Ampara District Secretariat. Archived from the original on 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2016-06-20.
    12. ↑ Mohideen, M. I. M. (27 December 2007). "Sinhalisation of East: A reply to Minister Champika Ranawaka". The Island (Sri Lanka) . Archived from the original on 5 October 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
    13. ↑ "Population by sex and district, census years" (PDF). Statistical Abstract 2011. Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-11-13.
    14. ↑ Schmiegelow, Michèle (1997). Democracy in Asia. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 425. ISBN   0-312-16495-5.
    15. ↑ Karalliyadda, S. B. (9 June 2013). "Awakening Jaffna Uthuru Wasanthaya". The Nation (Sri Lanka) . Archived from the original on 2013-12-24.
    16. ↑ "Chapter 1: The People, The State and Sovereignty". The Constitution of Sri Lanka. Government of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
    17. ↑ Law, Gwillim (2010). "Provinces of Sri Lanka". statoids.com. Retrieved 19 January 2010.
    18. ↑ "Introduction". Provincial Councils. Government of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 7 July 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
    19. ↑ "Population of Sri Lanka by district" (PDF). Department of Census and Statistics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 December 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
    20. 1 2 "At a Glance". Sri Lanka in Brief. Government of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 7 July 2009. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
    21. ↑ "Vision & Mission". District Secretariats Portal. Ministry of Public Administration & Home Affairs, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 13 May 2009. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
    22. ↑ "Kilinochchi a brief look". Daily News (Sri Lanka) . 27 April 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
    23. ↑ "About Us". Vavuniya District Secretariat. Archived from the original on 12 November 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
    24. ↑ "Performs Report and Accounts—2008" (PDF). District and Divisional Secretariats Portal—Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-03. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
    25. ↑ "Identification of DS Divisions of Sri Lanka Vulnerable for food insecurity" (PDF). World Food Programme. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2009.

    Bibliography

    Administrative divisions
    of Sri Lanka
    First level
    Provinces
    Second level
    Districts
    Third level
    Divisional Secretary's Divisions
    Fourth level
    Grama Niladhari Divisions
    This page is based on this Wikipedia article
    Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
    Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.