Fonds LK-NA/26 - Matara Kachcheri

Matara one of the Districts of the Southern Province, came under the control of' the British East India company in 1796. Its Revenue administration was carried out through Revenue Superintendents (Mudliyars), As a result of the Rebellion of 1797 the Revenue Superintendent's Office was abolished on the 28th of October and the revenue administration was carried out through a collector.
In 1799 the Revenue Superintendents were reappointed and in 1802 Matara became one of the Revenue Agencies.
In 1821 Matara Revenue Agency was abolished and it came under collectorship of Tangalle and remained upto 1833. On the recommendations of the Colebrooke Commission in 1833, Matara became one, of the Assistant Government Agency under the principal station of the Southern Province. This administrative structure remained unchanged upto 1955.
The military and civil duties exercised by the Disawa were separated. Accordingly, the collection of revenue the maintenance of law and order through headmen systems the enforcement of the cast service, and extraction of the customary service were entrusted to the collector. All the regulations of the government were published and enforced through the kachcheri.
The kachcheri was made the coordinating office and tile collector functioned as the contacting officer between the British government and the natives.
By the end of the 19th century there were separate sections in the kachcheri for the general administration, revenue, land matters, native affairs, irrigation, local government social service health etc.
Tile administrative regulation No.22 of 1955 placed Matara District under a Government Agent. This administration remained unchanged upto 1990.