Gov Jobs · Open Competitive Exam
⏳ Closing: 30 October 2026, 9:00 PM
Sri Lanka Foreign Service Grade III Exam 2026: 25 Vacancies, Revised Age Limits and How to Apply
The Public Service Commission has called applications for 25 vacancies in Grade III of the Sri Lanka Foreign Service. A Gazette of 16 October 2026 changed the original notice in two ways: the age limits were widened, and applications now run from 19 to 30 October 2026. This guide covers who can apply, how the written examination and interview work, what the application costs and the traps in the notice that cost candidates their place.
Department of Examinations Website
Amendment Summary (Inland Revenue and Foreign Service)
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Key Facts
Vacancies: 25, Grade III of the Sri Lanka Foreign Service
Applications: 19 October 2026, 9:00 AM to 30 October 2026, 9:00 PM
How to apply: Online, on doenets.lk, "Our Service", "Online Applications – Recruitment/E.B. Exams"
Examination fee: Rs. 1,200 (not refundable)
Age (general): 22 to 35 on 6 October 2026 (revised)
Age (public service): Not more than 40 on 6 October 2026 (revised)
Salary scale: Rs. 82,150 to Rs. 195,970 monthly (SL-1-2025)
Exam: Written examination in November 2026 in Colombo, then an interview
What the 16 October Amendment Changed
| Item | Original notice (4 September 2026, Gazette No. 2505) | After the amendment (16 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| General applicants' age | 22 to 28 (born between 6 Oct 1998 and 6 Oct 2004) | 22 to 35 (born between 6 Oct 1991 and 6 Oct 2004) |
| Public service applicants' age | Under 35 (born on or after 6 Oct 1991) | Under 40 (born on or after 6 Oct 1986) |
| Applications | 7 Sept 2026, 9:00 AM to 6 Oct 2026, 9:00 PM | 19 Oct 2026, 9:00 AM to 30 Oct 2026, 9:00 PM |
| Date for checking qualifications | 6 October 2026 | 6 October 2026 (unchanged) |
The amendment states that every other matter in the original notice remains in force.
Who Can Apply
- Degree: A degree from a foreign or state university recognised by the University Grants Commission, or a degree from a university established by an Act of Parliament of Sri Lanka, or a degree recognised under Section 25A of the Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978.
- Age: as in the table above, counted on 6 October 2026.
- Citizenship: A citizen of Sri Lanka. Dual citizens must give up the other nationality if selected and must not acquire another citizenship during service.
- Fitness: Physically and mentally fit to serve in Sri Lanka or anywhere in the world and to perform the duties of the post.
- Character: Excellent character. Each applicant must give a police report about themselves to the interview panel at the interview.
- Other conditions: All requirements must be met by the closing date. No person ordained in any religious order may apply or sit, and nobody may sit this examination on more than three occasions.
Serving public officers
- A candidate "in the Public Service" means an officer confirmed in the Public Service or the Provincial Public Service by the closing date.
- You need a satisfactory service record for the five years before the closing date (or your whole service, if shorter).
- The notice defines satisfactory as having earned all increments when due and having had no punishment other than a warning for offences in that period.
- Give a copy of your application to your Head of Institution for your personal file. When called for the interview, bring a copy certified by the Head of Institution and a letter confirming your service.
Salary and Terms of Service
- Salary scale: Rs. 82,150 – 10 × 2,400 – 8 × 2,940 – 17 × 3,900 – Rs. 195,970 per month (SL-1-2025, Public Administration Circular No. 10/2025 of 25 March 2025).
- The post is permanent and pensionable, with contributions to the Widows' and Orphans' Pension Scheme.
- There is a three-year probation period. The officer must pass the first Efficiency Bar examination within three years under the Service Minute.
- Proficiency in the official language or languages must be gained under Public Administration Circular 18/2020 of 16 October 2020.
- Terms follow the Sri Lanka Foreign Service Minute of 6 December 2016, the PSC's procedural rules, the Establishments Code and Government Financial Regulations.
- The PSC can dismiss anyone, even after recruitment, who did not meet the qualifications or gave incorrect information.
The Written Examination
The examination is in Sinhala, Tamil or English. You choose one medium when you apply, you sit every paper in that medium and you cannot change it later. All candidates sit the MCQ paper first, and only those who reach its minimum mark go on to the other papers.
| Paper | Time | Marks | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Paper | 3 hours | 100 | 40 |
| World Affairs I | 3 hours | 100 | 40 |
| World Affairs II | 3 hours | 100 | 40 |
| Essay | 3 hours | 100 | 40 |
| Précis | 30 minutes (as printed in the notice) | 50 | 25 |
| MCQ: IQ Test and General Knowledge and Current Affairs | 2 hours 30 minutes | 150 | 75 |
| Language Proficiency | 3 hours | 100 | 40 |
- The MCQ paper has two sections, Intelligence Test and General Knowledge and Current Affairs, of 75 minutes and 75 marks each.
- World Affairs I covers global peace, security, political developments, the United Nations and other international organisations. World Affairs II covers economic development trends, regional economic groupings, the environment and sustainable development, all in relation to Sri Lanka.
- Candidates sitting in Sinhala or Tamil take the Language Proficiency paper in English. English-medium candidates take it in Sinhala or Tamil.
The Interview for Eligibility Assessment
- Only candidates who sat all seven papers, passed each paper's minimum and reached the aggregate cut-off set by the Secretary are called. The cut-off will not be below 300 marks and will not be lowered, and no more than five times the number of vacancies will be called.
- The interview carries 100 marks. The interview board does not see your written marks.
- The final merit order is based on the combined written and interview marks, and the PSC appoints in that order, depending on vacancies.
| Interview criterion | Maximum marks |
|---|---|
| Additional educational qualifications (degree class) | 20 |
| Other and professional qualifications (postgraduate degree or diploma, recognised diplomas) | 15 |
| Proficiency in English | 15 |
| Proficiency in listed foreign languages | 10 |
| Computer skills | 5 |
| Proficiency in official languages (other than your exam medium) | 10 |
| Personality (10), communication skills (10) and interview skills (5) | 25 |
| Total | 100 |
Marks are given only for the highest qualification in each category. If a certificate you submit at the interview does not show the relevant dates, you must obtain written confirmation of the dates from the institution. Certificates without confirmed dates are not counted.
How to Apply, Step by Step
- Go to the Department of Examinations website, doenets.lk, and open "Our Service", then "Online Applications – Recruitment/E.B. Exams".
- Download and read the instructions for applying before you fill in the form.
- Complete the online application in English only.
- Pay the Rs. 1,200 fee through a method offered in the online system (see below).
- Wait for the SMS or email telling you that the payment was received, and later that your application is accepted or not accepted.
- Serving officers: give a copy of the application to your Head of Institution.
- Keep a copy of the completed application and your payment receipt.
Do not edit the form after printing it. Amendments made after you obtain a printed copy are not valid, and incomplete applications are rejected without notice.
Fee and Payment
- The fee is Rs. 1,200 and you must pay exactly that amount. Applications that have paid less or more will be rejected.
- Accepted methods in the online system are a bank credit card, a bank debit card with internet transactions, Bank of Ceylon online banking or the Flex app, and any Bank of Ceylon branch.
- You get an SMS or email once the payment is received.
- The fee is not refunded or moved to another examination for any reason, and the Department is not responsible for mistakes made in the payment methods.
Admission Card and Exam-Day Rules
- The Commissioner General of Examinations issues admission cards online only, to candidates who applied on time. You are told by web notice or SMS when they are issued.
- If you do not get your card, contact the Institutional Examinations Organization Branch. The notice suggests emailing the address given in the web notice with the examination name, your full name, NIC number and address.
- Check the card as soon as it is issued. Requests to change details at the examination hall or the interview will not be accepted.
- Your signature on the card must be attested. Serving government officers have it attested by their Head of Institution or an authorised officer. Others use a person from the notice's list, such as a government school head, Grama Niladhari, Justice of the Peace, Commissioner of Oaths, lawyer, notary public, authorised armed forces officer, public service officer or permanent staff grade officer, or a religious leader.
- Without the admission card you cannot sit the examination. You hand it to the supervisor on the first day.
- To prove your identity you may use only a National Identity Card, a valid passport or a valid Sri Lankan driving licence.
- You must keep your face and ears uncovered in the hall, and electronic communication devices are not allowed.
- Receiving a card does not confirm that you meet the qualifications or suit the post.
Applicant Guide
From the notice
- Applications run from 19 October (9:00 AM) to 30 October 2026 (9:00 PM). Age and qualifications are checked as at 6 October 2026.
- You must apply online in English and pay exactly Rs. 1,200. Late, incomplete or wrongly paid applications are rejected.
- There is a written examination of seven papers, then an interview marked out of 100. The merit order combines both.
- Documents at the interview include a police report, and serving officers need a certified copy of the application and a service confirmation letter.
- If a Sinhala, Tamil and English text differ, the Sinhala text prevails. The PSC may fill the vacancies wholly, partly or not at all.
Editor's guidance (general advice, not part of the notice)
The points below are general guidance by GovInfo.lk, not part of the official notice.
- Check your age on the right date. The cut dates (born between 6 October 1991 and 6 October 2004 for general applicants, on or after 6 October 1986 for public officers) are fixed to 6 October 2026, not today.
- If you applied in the first window, the amendment does not say what happens to those applications, so ask the Department of Examinations and keep proof of your earlier application and payment.
- Read the instructions before the form. Because changes after printing are invalid, have your degree details, NIC and contact details ready and keep your mobile number and email accessible for the SMS and email notices.
- Do not leave payment to the last evening. With a 9:00 PM closing and exact-amount payment, a failed card or bank transaction is a real risk.
- Plan the police report early. You must present it at the interview, and its processing time is not stated in the notice.
- Prepare for the MCQ first. Failing its minimum mark ends your candidacy, because only those who pass it sit the other papers.
- Map your certificates to the interview table. Gather evidence for each category (degree class, postgraduate qualification, English, foreign and official languages, computer skills), and get dates confirmed in writing where certificates do not show them.
- Serving officers: start the Head of Institution steps now, since the certified copy and service letter are needed for the interview.
Before you apply: this post summarises the Gazette of 4 September 2026 (No. 2505) and its amendment of 16 October 2026. Read both for the full conditions, and rely on the Sinhala text where the languages differ.
🇱🇰 සිංහල සාරාංශය
- ශ්රී ලංකා විදේශ සේවයේ III ශ්රේණියේ පුරප්පාඩු 25 සඳහා විවෘත තරග විභාගය (2026).
- අයදුම්පත් 2026 ඔක්තෝබර් 19 පෙ.ව. 9.00 සිට ඔක්තෝබර් 30 ප.ව. 9.00 දක්වා භාර ගැනේ (සංශෝධිත නිවේදනය).
- 2026.10.06 දිනට වයස 22 ත් 35 ත් අතර විය යුතුය. රාජ්ය සේවකයන් සඳහා වයස 40ට නොවැඩි විය යුතුය.
- විභාග ගාස්තුව රු. 1,200 කි. අයදුම්පත ඉංග්රීසියෙන් පමණක් පිරවිය යුතුය.
- ලිඛිත විභාගය 2026 නොවැම්බරයේ කොළඹදී පැවැත්වේ. පසුව සුදුසුකම් තක්සේරු සම්මුඛ පරීක්ෂණය පවත්වනු ලැබේ.
🇱🇰 தமிழ் சுருக்கம்
- இலங்கை வெளிநாட்டு சேவையின் தரம் III இல் 25 வெற்றிடங்களுக்கான திறந்த போட்டிப் பரீட்சை (2026).
- விண்ணப்பங்கள் 2026 ஒக்டோபர் 19 காலை 9.00 முதல் ஒக்டோபர் 30 இரவு 9.00 வரை ஏற்கப்படும் (திருத்தப்பட்ட அறிவித்தல்).
- 2026.10.06 அன்று வயது 22 முதல் 35 வரை இருக்க வேண்டும். அரச சேவையில் உள்ளோருக்கு 40 வயதுக்கு மேற்படக்கூடாது.
- பரீட்சைக் கட்டணம் ரூ. 1,200. விண்ணப்பப் படிவத்தை ஆங்கிலத்தில் மட்டுமே நிரப்ப வேண்டும்.
- எழுத்துப் பரீட்சை 2026 நவம்பரில் கொழும்பில் நடைபெறும். அதன் பின் தகுதி மதிப்பீட்டு நேர்முகப் பரீட்சை நடைபெறும்.
Official Links
[EDITOR: add the links to the 4 September 2026 Gazette (No. 2505) and the 16 October 2026 amendment PDFs here, as .gi-btn buttons with rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer".]
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Frequently Asked Questions
When do SLFS applications close?
At 9:00 PM on 30 October 2026. Applications reopened at 9:00 AM on 19 October 2026 under the amendment of 16 October 2026.
What is the age limit now?
General applicants must be at least 22 and under 35 on 6 October 2026 (born between 6 October 1991 and 6 October 2004). Public service applicants must be under 40 (born on or after 6 October 1986) and have a satisfactory service record.
How much is the application fee?
Rs. 1,200, paid in full through the online system, and it is not refundable.
What does the written examination include?
Seven papers: General Paper, World Affairs I, World Affairs II, Essay, Précis, a multiple-choice paper and a Language Proficiency paper. The MCQ paper comes first, and only those who pass it sit the rest.
Which documents can prove my identity in the exam hall?
Only a National Identity Card, a valid passport or a valid Sri Lankan driving licence.
How many candidates are called to the interview?
No more than five times the number of vacancies, chosen from those who passed every paper and reached the cut-off, which will not be below 300 marks.
Download Gazette
Source and Updates
Source: Public Service Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism: Open Competitive Examination for Recruitment to Grade III of the Sri Lanka Foreign Service (2026), Gazette Part I, Section (IIA) of 4 September 2026 (No. 2505), as amended by the notice in the Gazette of 16 October 2026.
Prepared by: GovInfo.lk Editorial Team
Last reviewed: 21.10.2026
Found an error or a change in the original notice? Contact us through the Contact page and we will review and correct this post.
GovInfo.lk is an independent information website and is not an official website of the Government of Sri Lanka. Readers should verify important information with the relevant official authority or original government document.
