The governor is the head of the provincial government and exercises executive power in respect of subjects devolved to provincial councils. The governor is appointed by the President of Sri Lanka for a period of five years. Chief Minister who is politically appointed takes decisions with the Board of Ministers in consultation with the Governor. Minister of Health of the Central Province executes his duties under the Chief Minister. Secretary of Health is the chief executive officer in the Provincial Ministry of Health, holding the responsibility to ensure that the statutory provisions are implemented. In instances where there is no Minister or an Acting Minister, the Secretary may exercise the power of Minister under the statute on the advice of the Governor.
Provincial Director of Health Services (PDHS) is the head of the Provincial Department of Health Services and shall function under the supervision and direction of the Secretary. Under him are the three Regional Directors of Health Services (RDHSS) for the three districts namely Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya who shall be responsible to the Provincial Director of Health Services for the provision of health services in their respective districts. The Heads of Institutions, namely Medical Superintendents, District Medical Officers, Medical Officers in Charge, Medical Officers of Health (MOHH) and Registered Medical Officers function under their respective Regional Directors of Health Services.
Table 1.1. Administrative Divisions & Local Government Bodies:
| Administrative Area | Divisional Secretary Areas | Grama Niladari Divisions | Pradeshiya Saba | Villages | Local Gov. Bodies | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MC | UC | |||||
| Sri Lanka | 331 | 14,021 | 271 | 36,822 | 23 | 41 |
| Kandy | 20 | 1,187 | 17 | 2,833 | 1 | 4 |
| Matale | 11 | 545 | 11 | 1,344 | 2 | 0 |
| Nuwara Eliya | 5 | 491 | 5 | 1,199 | 1 | 2 |
| Central Province | 36 | 2,223 | 33 | 5,376 | 4 | 6 |
Source: Department of Census & Statistics
Map 1.1. Divisional Secretary Areas in Central Province:
Kandy RDHS is divided into 20 Divisional Secretary Areas, which are further subdivided into 1,187 Grama Niladhari Divisions.
Map 1.2.1. Divisional Secretary Areas in RDHS Kandy:
RDHS Matale is considered to be the centremost region of the island and has a total area of 1,993 km2. It is in the northern part of the Central Province. Matale RDHS is divided into 11 Divisional Secretary Areas, which are further subdivided into 545 Grama Niladhari Divisions.
Map 1.2.2. Divisional Secretary Areas in RDHS Matale:
Nuwara Eliya RDHS is divided into 5 Divisional Secretary Areas, which are further subdivided into 491 Grama Niladhari Divisions.
Map 1.2.3: Divisional Secretary Areas in RDHS Nuwara Eliya: