Sri Lanka Administrative Division Finder
Find a Grama Niladhari (GN) Division and its newer GN code, or look up a Divisional Secretariat (DS) Division. See the district, province and full administrative hierarchy.
This finder uses the newer GN numbering system: the three-digit code for a GN Division. Older MPA/GN numbers and complete Location Codes are not included. If you need an older GN number, check the official administrative code records.
Enter a province, district, DS Division or GN Division name to search.
Find a Grama Niladhari (GN) number or code
Search your GN Division's name in English, Sinhala or Tamil, then check its parent DS Division and district. You can also browse a province, district and DS Division to find its GN records. If you already know the newer three-digit GN code, search it and use the hierarchy to distinguish divisions that share the same code.
People often use 'GN number' or 'GN code' for different identifiers. This finder displays the newer three-digit GN component, not the older MPA number and not a complete Location Code. Check which system an official form requires before copying a code.
GN code vs MPA code: two different numbering systems
The government Agriculture Enterprise Architecture distinguishes the newer hierarchy-based Location Code from the older GN code system, called the MPA code, and notes that the older system remains in use. A GN's short code alone does not contain the full province, district and DS hierarchy.
For example, the DCS administrative code table for Western Province lists Attidiya North in Ratmalana, Colombo District, with GN number 543 and GN code 030. This finder shows 030. The two values must not be used interchangeably.
This finder does not provide older MPA numbers or complete Location Codes. Use the official DCS administrative division records or contact your Divisional Secretariat for the older GN number required by a form.
| Identifier | Meaning | Available in this finder |
|---|---|---|
| Newer GN code | Three-digit GN component within a DS Division | Yes |
| Full Location Code | Hierarchy-based identifier including parent administrative codes | No |
| Older MPA/GN number | Older GN identifier, which may contain letters or slashes | No; consult official records |
How Sri Lanka's administrative divisions are organized
The administrative hierarchy runs from province to district, then Divisional Secretariat (DS) Division and Grama Niladhari (GN) Division. The Department of Census and Statistics' Census 2024 report describes this structure. Read the hierarchy card from top to bottom to see where a selected division belongs.
A shared name does not mean two records are the same administrative entity. For example, Colombo can refer to a district or a DS Division. Check the entity label and the full hierarchy.
What is a district?
A district is an administrative area within a province. Select a district to see its province, then browse its DS Divisions.
What is a Divisional Secretariat (DS) Division?
A DS Division is a subdivision of a district administered by a Divisional Secretary. Its Divisional Secretariat is also known as a Pradeshiya Lekam office. Search the DS Division name to see its district and province, or browse its GN Divisions.
Pradeshiya Sabha (Pradeshiya Saba) or Divisional Secretariat?
A Pradeshiya Sabha is a local government authority; it is distinct from a Divisional Secretariat or DS Division. The DCS Census 2024 report describes DS and GN administrative divisions separately from local authorities such as Municipal Councils, Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas.
Use this tool to find a Divisional Secretary's DS Division and its GN Divisions. It does not identify your Pradeshiya Sabha or other local council, and a DS result should not be taken as confirmation of a council boundary.
Find a GN Division's DS Division, district and province
A GN Division is an administrative area within a DS Division. Its name or local code alone may not identify it uniquely. The hierarchy card includes its parent DS Division, district and province so you can check which area you have found.
For example, selecting Mattakkuliya shows Western Province, Colombo District, Colombo DS Division and Mattakkuliya GN Division. A district and a DS Division can share a name; read the level labels to tell them apart.
How to find an administrative division in Sri Lanka
Search a name in English, Sinhala or Tamil. The top match is previewed with its entity type; if other matches appear, choose the one that fits the area you need.
Read the hierarchy from province down to the selected division. In Browse, choose a province, district and DS Division, then filter or page through that DS Division's GN records.
Search Sri Lanka's provinces and districts
Search a province or district name to see its administrative level. In Browse hierarchy, choose a province to list its districts, then choose a district to list its DS Divisions. Choosing a different parent clears the earlier selections below it.
A town name, postal area and local council are not interchangeable with a DS or GN Division. Use the administrative division's name when you know it, and check the complete hierarchy before completing an official form.
Postal codes and administrative divisions
Postal areas and administrative divisions serve different purposes. Need a town or post office's postal code? Use the Sri Lanka Postal Code Finder. A postal-code result should not be used to guess a DS or GN Division.
Data source
Administrative names, codes and relationships are provided by geo-sl. HariTools is an independent reference tool, not an official government service. Confirm current details with the relevant office for official forms.
Find a bank or branch code
Need banking details for a form? Use the Sri Lanka Bank & Branch Finder to search bank and branch names and copy their codes. A branch name does not identify a GN or DS Division.