Formation of the 9 Provinces of Sri Lanka - Dates and sources

The 9 Provinces of Sri Lanka

This is part of the series to share information and raw data which would be useful for students of history. This is a list of all 9 Provinces in Sri Lanka and the years in which they were formed, as per my searches in the National Archives. The relevant source is given in brackets in red. 

1833 - Colebrooke Cameron reforms – division of the island into five provinces:

            Northern Province

            Southern Province

            Western Province

            Eastern Province

            Central Province 

(History of Ceylon Vol. III, University of Ceylon, Peradeniya, 1973 – Chapter VI: The Colebrooke-Cameron reforms by Vijaya Samaraweera.)

1845 – formation of the North Western Province comprising of Chilaw and Puttalm and the Seven Korales (Ceylon Government Gazette, October 1, 1845, No. 2399)

1873 – formation of the North Central Province comprising the Districts of Nuwarakalawiya, Tamankaduwa and Demala Pattu [Out of the Northern, Northwestern and Eastern Provinces] (Ceylon Government Gazette, September 6, 1873, No. 3953)

1886 – formation of Uva Province comprising of Bintenna, Wellassa, Wiyaluwa, Udakinda, Yatikinda, Butale and Kandapola [Out of the Central Province] (Ceylon Government Gazette, February 5, 1886, No. 4711)

1889 – formation of Sabaragamuwa Province comprising the Districts of Kegalle and Ratnapura. (Out of the Western Province)

This link gives more statistical data pertaining to the Provinces as well as the Districts.

http://coins.lakdiva.org/d25/districts.html