Before the creation of a urban council for the governance of the city of Avissawella, which is now known as Seethavakapura, there was a Santeri board called the Santeri Board, which was established in the late 1930s. This board was empowered to levy public taxes for maintenance and received an annual grant from the government. Taxes were levied by an officer called Santry Assistant.

As the needs of the area became more complex, the government realized the needs of a local government body for the area. Because of this, under the 2nd obligation of the Municipal Assembly Ordinance Act of the Ceylon Constitution Promotion Code (Surcharge 255) No. 8837 and the Government of Ceylon Special Gazette dated 12 December 1941, Avissawella was appointed by the Provincial Government Council on 01.01.1945.

The inaugural meeting was held on 14 January 1945. The first Honorary Chairman was the late ALB de Jacqueline Seneviratne, who was a lawyer. Later in 1968 it became a municipality.

The jurisdiction of Avissawella town was also expanded by a special government gazette notification dated 26.01.1968. The area is about 13 square meters in the area of the municipal council and the area under the control of the Hanwella Udugahapattu village council. There were 11 divisions from the area to the municipality area.

In 1945, when the first council meeting was held at the city office, the city council was located on Scouts Headquarters Mawatha and The old building near the intersection where A.L.B.B. Jacqueline Seneviratne Mawatha divides. In 1977, a site was moved to the present Municipal Council location.

By the Special Gazette Notification No. 147866 dated 26.01.1968, the area was expanded and the official name of this Urban Council was amended to Seethawakapura Urban Council as per the Special Gazette No. 453/4 of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka dated 12.05.1987.

 

Boundaries of Seethakapura urban council    –    Download