Sri Lanka Institute of Local Governance (SLILG)

The Sri Lanka Institute of Local Governance (SLILG) was established under the Parliamentary Act No. 31 of 1999, with the core objective of enhancing the institutional and managerial capacities of Provincial Councils and Local Government institutions in Sri Lanka. SLILG plays a pivotal role in facilitating the effective and efficient delivery of public services at the sub-national level.

As the national apex institution mandated to support capacity building, training, research, and consultancy in the area of devolved governance, SLILG promotes the principles of Good Governance (GG) and supports the implementation of the devolution process. Through its efforts, SLILG contributes toward building a more responsive, transparent, and accountable local governance system across the country.

Sri Lanka operates under a unitary democratic republic system consisting of three levels of government: national, provincial, and local. The 13th Amendment to the Constitution provides the legal foundation for this devolved structure.

• Provincial Councils, introduced through the Parliamentary Act No. 47 of 1987, function as the second tier of governance.

• Local Authorities form the third tier and operate under three key acts:

  • • Urban Councils Ordinance 1939

    • Municipal Councils Ordinance 1947

    • Pradeshiya Sabhas Act No. 15 of 1987

Currently, there are 341 Local Authorities across the country, including:

• 29 Municipal Councils (MC)

• 36 Urban Councils (UC)

• 276 Pradeshiya Sabhas (PS)

These institutions are supported by financial grants from the Central Government, routed through the Finance Commission. Their key responsibilities include:

• Collection of taxes, license fees, and rents

• Management of public health and local infrastructure

• Delivery of public utility services

• Maintenance of local roads and facilities 

Under Article 154G of the Constitution, Provincial Councils are empowered to enact statutes related to subjects listed under List I of the Ninth Schedule (Provincial Council List). However, this authority is subject to constitutional provisions, and the Parliament of Sri Lanka may legislate on provincial matters conditionally, ensuring checks and balances within the system.

Local Authorities are tasked with grassroots-level service delivery, while Pradeshiya Sabhas are vested with slightly broader responsibilities in comparison to Municipal and Urban Councils.

To empower local government institutions and provincial councils by developing their institutional and human resource capacities, fostering innovation, and promoting a citizen-centric approach to local governance in Sri Lanka.

The SLILG is committed to:

• Conducting capacity-building programs independently and in collaboration with Provincial Management Development Training Units (MDTUs)

• Supporting MDTUs to enhance their training and development capabilities

• Functioning as a national resource center on local governance

• Serving as a focal point for collaboration with national and international institutions

• Providing training, consultancy, and research services for governance reform and institutional strengthening

• Advocating for effective policy-making and organizational change in local governance

SLILG was formed as a direct response to the 1997 Presidential Commission recommendations, which emphasized the urgent need for building the capacities of local and provincial government institutions. Since its inception in October 1999, the institute has remained at the forefront of good governance, devolution, and local democracy in Sri Lanka.