1. This Act may be cited as the Administrative Districts Act.

2.

(1) The administrative districts specified in the Schedule to this Act are hereby established.

(2) The limits of each administrative district specified in column I of the Schedule to this Act shall, subject to any alterations made therein under section 3, be those specified in the corresponding entry in column II of that Schedule.

3. An administrative district may be abolished, a new administrative district may be established, the limits of an administrative district may be altered, and the Schedule to this Act may be amended or replaced with a new Schedule, by a resolution passed by Parliament.

4. Each administrative district shall be assigned to a Government Agent as his area of authority instead of a province.

5. Any number of Additional Government Agents, Assistant Government Agents, and Additional Assistant Government Agents may be appointed for an administrative district.

6. This Act shall not be deemed to prevent the continuance of the provinces of Sri Lanka as now constituted or as may hereafter be constituted, for any purpose other than that for which administrative districts are established by this Act.

7.

(1) In any written law, unless the context otherwise requires, the expression "administrative district" shall mean an administrative district established by or under this Act.

(2) Every reference in any other written law to a revenue district shall, after the commencement of this Act, be construed as a reference to the administrative district consisting of the area which constituted that revenue district.

(3) Where any other written law enables or requires the Government Agent of a province to exercise or perform any power, duty or function, such law shall, after the commencement of this Act, be construed as enabling or requiring the Government Agent of each administrative district in that province to exercise or perform that power, duty or function within the limits of that administrative district.

(4) Where any other written law confers on the Government Agent of a province the power to make any by-law, regulation, rule, order, notification or notice, such law shall, after the commencement of this Act, be construed as conferring power on the Government Agent of each administrative district in that province to make for that administrative district any such by-law, regulation, rule, order, notification or notice.

(5) Where any other written law confers on the Government Agent of a province the power to issue any licence, permit, certificate of registration, or other document, such law shall, after the commencement of this Act, be construed as conferring power on the Government Agent of each administrative district in that province to issue for that administrative district any such licence, permit, certificate of registration or other document.

(6) Where any other written law confers on the Government Agent of a province the power to determine any fees or charges, such law shall, after the commencement of this Act, be construed as conferring on the Government Agent of each administrative district in that province the power to determine for that administrative district any such fees or charges.

(7) Where any other written law requires any such notice, information, declaration, return or other document as relates to any matter in any part of a province to be delivered, sent or given to the Government Agent of that province, such law shall, after the commencement of this Act, be construed as requiring that notice, information, declaration, return or other document to be delivered, sent or given to the Government Agent of the administrative district within which that part of that province lies.

8. The Minister may by Order published in the Gazette make such amendments in any other written law, or make such provision in regard to any matter, as may be necessary in consequence of the provisions of this Act. Every Order made by the Minister under this subsection and published in the Gazette shall have the force of law.

9.

(1) This Act shall not be deemed to affect the operation of any by-law, regulation, rule, order, notification or notice made by the Government Agent of a province under any other written law before the commencement of this Act.

(2) This Act shall not be deemed to affect the continuance in force of any licence, permit, certificate of registration or other document issued, and the validity of any instrument executed, by the Government Agent of a province before the commencement of this Act.

(3) Where the Government Agent of a province has, before the commencement of this Act, determined any fees or charges by virtue of the power conferred on him by any other written law, such determination shall not be affected by this Act.

(4) Where any act or thing is commenced by the Government Agent of a province under any other written law in any part of that province and is not completed before the commencement of this Act, that act or thing may be carried on and completed by the Government Agent of the administrative district within which that part of that province lies.