Until 2005, broader term officers are classed into SLAS class 1 officers, SLAS class 2 grade 1, and SLAS class 2 grade 2. All grades from SLAS class 1 and above (see table) are part of the "Senior officers ". The
Secretary to the Treasury was the traditional head of the Civil Service during the time of the old
Ceylon Civil Service, but in years after the establishment of the SLAS the President's Secretary is the de facto head of the SLAS if he/she is a former SLAS officer. After 1 January 2005 Sri Lanka Administrative service introduced four grades, such as: • Special Grade offices (present cadre is 200) • Class I officers (present cadre is 507) • Class II officers (present cadre is 639) • Class III officers (present cadre is 1059) Below the "Senior officers "(Special Grade offices, Class I officers and ), each individual department can put in place its own grading. The traditional titles for each grade of the civil service are as follows: • The post of Deputy Secretary is only used in the Ministry of Finance is ranked just below the post of Permanent Secretary. ==Notable members of the SLAS==