This book sets out the roots of the local government system in Sri Lanka that goes back to the reign of the Sinhala Kings. The system prevailed in Sri Lanka during the entire course of its history, undergoing changes to suit the conditions of the time. It has come down to our current times in the form of Village Committee, now called Village Councils after the nomenclature was changed in 1961. The growing political agitation for a greater share of self-government during the early 20th century led to the appointment of the Local Government Commission. The development of Local Government since then has been phenomenal. Village Committees with greatly increased powers and elected Chairman are in charge of village affairs. Urban District Councils with elected Chairmen have replaced Local Boards in all towns. The book also highlights the trends in Local Government in the post-independence period and the current status of the local government authorities.