Administrative Structure of Sri Lanka

1.2. Administrative Structure of Sri Lanka

The British colonial period of Sri Lanka was known internationally as Ceylon, and it is of special significance since it saw the establishment of a strong, centralized administrative

system as well as the beginnings of modern local government. The development of

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constitutional government in Sri Lanka began in 1802 when the British made Ceylon a Crown Colony in 1796. Sri Lanka became an independent state in 1948 after four and a half centuries of colonial domination (from 1505 to 1948) by the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the British, but it was a form of independence known as Dominion Status. The Second Constitution was adopted in 1972. It was first prepared by Sri Lankans and adopted by the Parliament elected in 1970. This Parliament made itself a Constituent Assembly to prepare

a new Constitution that would make Ceylon a Republic.

Today, Sri Lanka is governed by the Socialist Democratic Republican Constitution of Sri Lanka of 1978, under which, a nationally elected executive president, a Parliament consisting of 225 members, elected for a six year term, 196 members elected in multi-seat constituencies and 29 by proportional representation, and a cabinet of ministers from within parliament functions at the national level. The executive president entertains the executive powers and is directly elected for a six-year term, is the head of state, head of government, and the commander in chief of the armed forces under the Constitution of 1978. Legislative power is vested to the Parliament and judicial power is exercised by the Parliament through courts and other tribunals. Although for sovereignty purposes the Parliament is exercising judicial power, the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, and other courts are free from outside intervention and maintain judicial independence.

The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of 1987 and the Provincial Councils Act No. 42 of 1987 has special relevance to power sharing between the central government and other levels of government within the system of republican governance and made consti- tutional and legal provision for the establishment of provincial councils at the level of the province, within Sri Lanka’s unitary constitution. Executive power is vested in a provincial governor appointed by the executive president at the centre, and holds office, under Article 154 B (2) of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution “at the pleasure of the President.”

A board of ministers headed by a chief minister and four other ministers is appointed to aid and advise him in the performance of his functions. Under normal circumstances, the governor seems to be in the position of a constitutional head. However, his role assumes significance in relation to his discretionary powers, which are tied up with central control and direction. These powers include appointment of the chief minister, dissolution of the PC, assent to bills, and action in emergency situations such as breakdown of administrative machinery and financial instability.

Administratively, attention has to be drawn to the centralized administrative system which still persists, especially in relation to the status and functioning of local authorities. Sri Lanka consists of nine provinces, which are divided into 25 districts, with each province consisting of two or three districts. While elected provincial councils operate at provincial level, but there is no elected institution at the level of the district. Thus in each district, a district

Sri Lanka

secretary functions, at the divisional level, a divisional secretary has been appointed, and at village level, a Grama Niladhari holds office for a group of villages. It has to be noted that district secretaries, divisional secretaries, and Grama Niladharis are administrative officials, responsible to the centre, and not elected by the people of each area.

Another important innovation in relation to local government was the Pradeshiya Sabhas Act No. 15 of 1987, which brought in a system of elected Pradeshiya Sabhas, (in addition to municipal and urban councils in urban areas). Each Pradeshiya Sabha area consists of

a number of villages, and these bodies are vested with legislative and executive authority in relation to their functions specified under the Act. Presently, therefore, Sri Lanka’s

institutions of local governance consist of 18 municipal councils, 42 urban councils, and 270 Pradeshiya Sabhas.

PRESIDENT

PARLIAMENT / CABINET

NATIONAL LEVEL

MINISTERS + DEPARTMENTS

PL/LG OTHER AGENCIES

PA/MA

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL / GOVERNOR PROVINCIAL

OTHER PROVINCIAL

PROVINCIAL LEVEL MINISTERS

CHIEF MINISTER

CHIEF SECRETARY STAFF

DISTRICT LEVEL

LINE AGENCIES

GA/DISTRICT SECRETARY

DIVISIONAL LEVEL LOCAL AUTHORITIES

LINE AGENCIES

DIVISIONAL SECRETARY

MCs UCs PSs

VILLAGE LEVEL

GRAMA NILADHARI

VILLAGE LEVEL SOCIETIES (CBOs)

Figure 1. Administrative Structure of Sri Lanka

Source: Ministry of Public Administration, Sri Lanka [1].

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