Sri Lanka Foreign Service Grade III Vacancies 2026 – 25 Posts

Applications are invited for the Open Competitive Examination for recruitment to Grade III of the Sri Lanka Foreign Service – 2026.

The examination will be conducted by the Commissioner General of Examinations on behalf of the Public Service Commission to fill 25 vacancies.

⚡ Quick Information

🏛️ Institution: Public Service Commission
🏢 Ministry: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism
💼 Service: Sri Lanka Foreign Service – Grade III
🔢 Vacancies: 25
🎓 Qualification: Recognized Degree
👤 Age Limit: 22–28 Years
🏢 Public Officers: Below 35 Years
💰 Salary Scale: Rs. 82,150–195,970
📊 Salary Code: SL-1-2025
💳 Examination Fee: Rs. 1,200
🌐 Application Method: Online Only
📅 Applications Open: 07 September 2026 at 9.00 a.m.
🔴 Closing Date: 06 October 2026 at 9.00 p.m.
🗓️ Examination: November 2026
📍 Examination Centre: Colombo

English Gazette

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Required Educational Qualifications

Applicants should possess one of the following qualifications:

A degree obtained from a foreign or state university recognized by the University Grants Commission; or
A degree awarded by a university established under an Act of Parliament in Sri Lanka; or
A degree recognized under Section 25A of the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978.

All required qualifications must have been completed by the application closing date.

Age Limit

General Applicants

Applicants should be between 22 and 28 years of age as of 06 October 2026.

Eligible applicants should have been born:

On or before 06 October 2004; and
On or after 06 October 1998.

Public and Provincial Public Service Officers

Confirmed officers in the Public Service or Provincial Public Service should be below 35 years of age on the closing date.

They should have been born on or after 06 October 1991 and possess a satisfactory service record.

Other Eligibility Conditions

Applicants must:

Be citizens of Sri Lanka
Be of excellent character
Be physically and mentally fit to serve in Sri Lanka or anywhere in the world
Have fulfilled every required qualification by the closing date

A selected dual citizen must renounce their foreign citizenship and must not obtain citizenship in another country while serving in the Sri Lanka Foreign Service.

A person ordained in a religious order is not eligible to apply. A candidate may sit this examination on a maximum of three occasions.

Salary and Service Conditions

The applicable monthly salary scale is:

Rs. 82,150 – 10×2,400 – 8×2,940 – 17×3,900 – Rs. 195,970

Salary Code: SL-1-2025

The appointment is permanent and pensionable. Selected candidates will be subject to a three-year probation period and must pass the First Efficiency Bar Examination within three years.

Written Examination

The written examination will be conducted in Sinhala, Tamil and English. Applicants must sit all papers in the selected language medium.

The examination consists of seven papers:

General Paper
World Affairs I
World Affairs II
Essay
Précis
MCQ Paper – Intelligence, General Knowledge and Current Affairs
Language Proficiency

All candidates must sit the MCQ paper first. Only candidates obtaining the required minimum marks in the MCQ paper will be permitted to sit the remaining papers.

Candidates must pass all seven papers and obtain the required aggregate marks to qualify for the interview.

Interview

Candidates will be assessed at the interview based on:

Additional educational qualifications
Professional and other qualifications
English proficiency
Foreign-language proficiency
Computer skills
Proficiency in the other official language
Personality, communication and interview skills

A maximum of five times the number of available vacancies may be called for the interview.

Examination Fee

The non-refundable examination fee is Rs. 1,200.

Payment must be made through one of the payment methods available in the online application system, including:

Credit card
Debit card enabled for online transactions
Bank of Ceylon online banking or BOC Flex
Payment through a Bank of Ceylon branch

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online through the Department of Examinations website.

Visit https://www.doenets.lk/
Select Our Services
Open Online Applications – Recruitment/E.B. Exams
Select the Sri Lanka Foreign Service Grade III Examination 2026
Complete the application in English
Pay the Rs. 1,200 examination fee
Submit the application and retain a printed copy

Applications will open at 9.00 a.m. on 07 September 2026.

Officers serving in the Public or Provincial Public Service should submit a copy of the application to the Head of their institution. A certified copy and service-confirmation letter must be produced when called for the interview.

Closing Date

Online applications must be submitted before 9.00 p.m. on 06 October 2026.

Applicants are advised not to wait until the final day to submit their applications.

Official Sources

Official Gazette:
https://documents.gov.lk/api/content-file-proxy?file=/gazette-content/I-II(A)+-+(E)+(04.09.2026)+-+Tem._1788509601.pdf

Online Application Portal:
https://www.doenets.lk/

Applicants should carefully read the complete Gazette notification before submitting an application.

Source Note:
This information has been prepared with reference to the official advertisement and relevant institutional sources. Applicants are advised to verify all details from the official source before applying.