Vidane Arachchi or Vidane was the post of village policemen in British Ceylon. Under the regulation No. 6 of 1806, the Government Agent of the district appointed a Vidane to each village, for prevention and detection of crime in rural area. Appointments were made to locals, usually from families loyal to the British Crown.
The post was created by the Dutch as the lower tier of the public administration system modified by the British until it was gradually replaced with the formation and expansion of the Ceylon Police Force.