Department of Local Government

Corporate body

Department of Local Government

1982-1986

On the basis for the recommendation of the Local Government Commission in 1916, the Local Government Ordinance No.20 of 1920. A Local Government Board was established under the Act for the general supervision and control of Local Authorities at the level of the Central Government. This Ordinance also provided for the establishment District Councils, replacing the former sanitary and Local Boards, for all parts of the Island, other than Municipal areas for which Municipal Councils already existed. Most of the key functions of these Local Government were placed under the Administration of Local Authorities and their accounts were audited by the Government. The 1930s however were the most significant years in the history of Local Government in Sri Lanka. The recommendation of the Donoughmore Commission which were implemented during this period brought about a system of unified central control of local administration and also laid the basis for the future growth of local government in the country. The responsibility of supervision and control of local Government activities remained in the hands of the British Governor until 1931. In 1931 an Executive Committee of the State Council was established for this purpose and for the first time in the history of the Island the elected representatives were given greater responsibility in matters concerning Local Government. Immediately following this in 1931 a Ministry of Local Government was created for guiding the policy of the Central Government regarding Local Government. This was followed by the established of the Department of Local Government under a Commissioner, for the supervision and control of the functions of the Local Government Boards, Municipalities, District Councils, Boards of Improvement and Local Boards, Road Committees and Village Committees etc. The Commissioner of Local Government was to be ‘A Guide Philosopher and Friend’ to Local Authorities in carrying out their responsibilities. In 1939 Urban Councils were created and during the year 1946 Town Councils were created for the small Towns. The local Government Service Commission was established in 1945. The Local Government (Administrative Regions) Ordinance No.57 of 1946 also brought about a similar change in the separation of Local Government Administration and Provincial Administration. The Official Committee on Local Government Finance of 1948 and the Choksy Commission Report of 1953 strongly recommended the strengthening of the existing system. In the Local Authorities (Enactment of Powers) Act No.8 of 1952 no conscious effort was made towards the creation of an autonomous system. Local Government Councils Act No.35 of 1980, gave the Local Authorities limited powers to decide on matters of Local interest but the more serious limiting factor was the lack of Finance.

LK-NA/DLG

LK-NA

ISAAR

Final

Minimal

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