The National Human Resources Development Council of Sri Lanka, as a national level Consultative Body was began as a unit of the Ministry of Youth Affairs on the 05th of June 1987. Subsequently it was established as an independent statutory body under the purview of the Ministry of Science & Technology, subject to the provisions of the National Human Resources Development Council Act No. 18 of 1997. Since then, this institution was assigned to the Ministry of Technical Education and Vocational Training within a short period i.e., in the year 2000, and again in the year 2001 it was assigned to the Ministry of Education & Cultural Affairs. Then, subsequent to the change of government, the institution was assigned to the Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational & Technical Training and then the institution was assigned to the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs. This institution which functioned under a number of ministries within a short period is currently carrying out its functions under the purview of the Ministry of Public Services,Human Resources Provincial Councils and Local Government.