Sri Lanka Administrative Service, which is the premier public service in Sri Lanka, has a prestigious history dating back to 1802 when the Ceylon Civil Service (CCS) was established by the British Government, mainly to collect revenue and to maintain law and order in the country. After regaining independence from the British rule, the CCS was restructured in 1963 to suit the requirement of the independent Ceylon, as the Ceylon Administrative Service (SLAS) in 1972, when Sri Lanka became a republic.

Irrespective of the above changes of title and the characteristics of the Administrative Service, its contribution to the advancement of the country has continued to be a significant one, throughout its history. Extending from national level to provincial and municipal levels, the functions of the SLAS ranges from policy formulation to implementing development activities at village level.

Adapting to the rapid changes that are taking place at global and national level, the role of the SLAS officer has now involved from and administrative one, to that of a manager.