The Provincial Council system was established in Sri Lanka in the year 1988 under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Accordingly the functions of the Central Provincial Council have been commenced on the 14th July 1988 . The Central provincial Council Authority Area Consists of three Administrative Districts , Namely Kandy , Matale and Nuwara Eliya. There are 58 elected members in the Central Provincial Council , representing the major communities , Sinhala , Tamil and Muslims living in the Central Province.
The Governor appointed by the President functions as the Chief Executive of the Central Province. There is a Board of Ministers with the Chief Minister at the head and four other Ministers to aid and advise the Governor in the exercise of his function.
According to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution the subjects and function allocated to the Central Provincial Council are shown in the 1st List called the provincial Council List. The 2nd List shows subjects and functions reserved for the parliament called the enclosed list and in the 3rd List the subjects and functions can be exercised by both the parliament and the provincial council and is referred to as the concurrent List.
The Provincial Council , subject to the provisions of the constitution, frames statutes applicable to central province in respect of any matter set out in the provincial council List’ the provincial council has no power to make statutes on any matter set out in the reserved ListThe Central Provincial council, subject to the provisions of the constitution , may make statutes applicable to the Central Province. In respect of any matters set out in the Concurrent list , after consultation with the parliament and in turn the parliament, also can make laws applicable to the central province in respect of subjects set out in the concurrent List after consultation with the Central Provincial Council.The Statutes framed as above and passed by the central provincial Council , become law of the Central Province on receiving the assent of the Governor as prescribed in the 13th Amendment.
The Governor of the Central Province has been vested with financial powers under the provisions of provincial council Act No 42 of 1988 and under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
