Administrative divisions of Sri Lanka

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History

The country was first divided into several administrative units during the

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

List of subdivisions

Provinces

Currently there are nine provinces.

Map	Code	Name	Area (km2)	Population[19]	Website
Bay of Bengal Palk Strait Northern Province Gulf of Mannar North Central Province North Western Province Eastern Province Central Province Uva Province Western Province Sabaragamuwa Province Southern Province Indian Ocean
	CP	Central Province	5,674	2,556,774	cp.gov.lk
	EP	Eastern Province	9,996	1,547,377	ep.gov.lk
	NC	North Central Province	10,714	1,259,421	nc.gov.lk
	NP	Northern Province	8,884	1,060,023	np.gov.lk
	NW	North Western Province	7,812	2,372,185	nw.gov.lk
	SG	Sabaragamuwa	4,902	1,919,478	sg.gov.lk
	SP	Southern Province	5,559	2,465,626	sp.gov.lk
	UP	Uva	8,488	1,259,419	up.gov.lk
	WP	Western Province	3,709	5,837,294	wpc.gov.lk

Districts

• List of capitals in Sri Lanka
• List of cities in Sri Lanka
• List of towns in Sri Lanka

Notes

References