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The main purpose o f this paper is to explore, how the changing social structure was crucially
impact on formation o f local administration in the context o f local democracy in pre- and post -
independence Sri Lanka. The ancient administration system was highly centered and autocratic
in the king domain period in Sri Lankan society. Entire administration system was completely
controlled by the king and his subordinates ’ class who had more privileges and civil powers than
ordinary people on various social capacities. Due to this privileges and civil authorities o f this
elite group that people did not have sufficient opportunity to engage in administrative activities
or politics on what they need to wish. This trend has been shown not only under the colonial
period but also after independency as well. Therefore, a puzzle is creating regarding period of
pre- and post-independence administrative and local governance process in Sri Lanka. There
was a sufficient opportunity for the people with regard participate ofpolitics and administrative
functions. Also, considerable social change has been taken place by the time. There are sufficient
structural changes were happened in grass root politics, yet, there was no shown proof
evidence about sufficient opportunities for the people regarding participation in politics or
administration in the governance activities, why? This study will depend on number of
arguments and interpretations which have been given by the previous scholars regarding social
changes and political transformation in pre and post colonial Sri Lanka. Therefore, this study is
employs critical theory which is one o f the main post modem approaches o f scientific inquiry as
a major methodology for the analysis of existing arguments. Therefore, research will be
critically examined the existing nature o f the context by using scholarly writings and
interpretations. The main limitation o f this research is finding relevant secondary sources
documents which written by the previous scholars regarding same field. Mainly, this research
has been found that class, cast and wealth as well as dominant civil power has been used for
maintain and sustain o f the politics and administration o f local governance in pre and post
independence Sri Lanka. Further, final output o f this research can be used scholars who desire
to do a research on same area with applying same methodology.
