The main responsibility of this directorate is to proper conduct of all types of Hydrographic surveys including defence surveys and project surveys in lakes, rivers, coastal waters and offshore waters within Sri Lanka's jurisdiction and in accordance with the guidelines given in Hydrographic Instructions (HI) issued by the Chief Hydrographer. A Captain/ Commander ranked officer who is specialised in Hydrography and who is a qualified CAT 'A' Hydrographic surveyor (IHO/ FIG/ ICA - Category A) is eligible to head this directorate.

All administrative and training matters pertaining to the function of SLNHS will be undertaken by the directorate of HR. A Captain/Commander ranked officer who is specialized in Hydrography and who is a qualified CAT 'A' Hydrographic surveyor (IHO/ FIG/ ICA – Category A) is eligible to head this directorate.

Hydrographic Data Management Centre (HDMC) is established for the functions of this directorate. Accordingly, this directorate is mainly responsible maintaining Data bank of all the previous data collections and for the Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/ QC) of all Hydrographic survey data which is sent to the HDMC on completion of each Hydrographic survey together with a comprehensive technical report called report of survey (ROS). A Captain/ Commander ranked officer who is specialized in Hydrography and who is a qualified CAT 'A' Hydrographic surveyor (IHO/ FIG/ ICA - Category A) is eligible to head this directorate.

Production of final output arising from Hydrographic surveys, which are paper nautical charts, Raster Nautical Charts (RNCs), Electronic Navigation Charts (ENCs), Additional Military Layers (AMLs) and other thematic maps used by mariners and other customers are the major responsibilities of this directorate. A Captain/ Commander ranked officer who is specialized in Hydrography and who is a qualified CAT 'A' Hydrographic surveyor (IHO/ FIG/ ICA - Category A) together with IHO/ FIG/ ICA – Category B or Category A Cartography qualified officer is eligible to head this directorate.