Act. J. R. Jayewardene Centre was established by the J. R. Jayewardene Centre Act No. 77 of 1988.

Board of Governors

The administration, management and control of the Centre are vested in a Board of Governors composed of the following

•  The President of the Republic
•  All living Past Presidents
•  The Prime Minister
•  The Speaker
•  The Leader of the Opposition
•  The Secretary to the President
•  The Public Trustee
•  The Director, National Archives
•  Two other members appointed by the President.

Objects: The Centre be a depository for historical research, archives and library to hold all public records, printed matter, and to accept for deposit books, papers, files, photographs, diskettes, audio tapes and memorabilia of the childhood and youth of His Excellency collected and collated by him including memorabilia of election campaigns, official portraits, awards, medals and gifts received by him.