Management Service Officers’ Service Grade III Limited Competitive Examination 2026

📢 Management Service Officers’ Service Grade III Limited Competitive Examination 2026 has been announced by the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government.

Applications are invited from eligible government officers for the Limited Competitive Examination for recruitment to Grade III of the Management Service Officers’ Service.

The examination is expected to be held in December 2026, and applications must be submitted online only through the official website of the Department of Examinations, Sri Lanka.

📅 Important Dates

🟢 Applications Open: 31 August 2026 at 9.00 a.m.

🔴 Application Closing Date: 25 September 2026 at 9.00 p.m.

📝 Examination: December 2026

🌐 Application Method: Online only

The official Gazette states that applicants should submit their applications through the Department of Examinations website.

👥 Who Can Apply?

This examination is open only to permanent government officers who have been confirmed in their appointments and who are receiving salaries under the relevant PL category at the primary level under Public Administration Circular No. 10/2025, or under the MN 1-2025 salary code.

⚠️ Provincial Public Service officers are not eligible to sit for this examination.

✅ Main Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must also meet the following requirements:

✔️ Have completed at least 5 years of active and satisfactory service in a permanent appointment by the application closing date.

✔️ Must not have been subjected to disciplinary punishment according to the relevant provisions.

✔️ Must have passed the G.C.E. (Ordinary Level) examination with at least two Credit passes, including the required language/literature and mathematics-related subjects, with a minimum of six subjects passed within not more than two attempts.

✔️ Must possess good character.

✔️ Must be physically and mentally fit to perform the duties of the post and serve anywhere in Sri Lanka.

✔️ All required qualifications must be completed by 25 September 2026.

💰 Salary

The monthly salary scale for Grade III of the Management Service Officers’ Service is:

💵 Rs. 48,470 – 82,800

Salary scale:

Rs. 48,470 – 10 × 540 – 11 × 630 – 10 × 1,010 – 10 × 1,190 – Rs. 82,800 (MN 2-2025)

An applicant selected for appointment will be entitled to the applicable salary from 1 January 2027, subject to the provisions of the relevant Public Administration Circular. Other allowances payable to government officers may also apply.

📝 Examination Details

The examination consists of two question papers:

Examination Paper	Maximum Marks	Pass Marks	Duration
Language Proficiency & Management Service Officers’ Service Aptitude Test	100	40	2 hours 30 minutes
Aptitude	100	40	1 hour

Candidates must obtain at least 50% of the total marks in the examination to be considered for selection for appointment.

📚 Examination Syllabus

📖 1. Language Proficiency & Management Service Officers’ Service Aptitude Test

This paper tests areas including:

🔹 Expression of ideas
🔹 Comprehension
🔹 Spelling
🔹 Language and composition
🔹 Drafting a letter based on given information
🔹 Summarising a given passage
🔹 Combining several sentences into one sentence
🔹 Preparing graphs and tables using given data
🔹 Basic grammar

The paper also examines candidates’ knowledge of the duties of Management Service Officers, including basic rules relating to handling office documents and administrative work.

Part I – Language Proficiency

⏱️ 1 hour 15 minutes
📝 50 marks

Includes comprehension-related structured questions, summary writing and essay writing.

Part II – Management Service Officers’ Service Aptitude

⏱️ 1 hour 15 minutes
📝 50 marks

Includes short, structured and essay-type questions based on situations, statements or passages related to the duties of Management Service Officers.

🧠 2. Aptitude

⏱️ Duration: 1 hour

This paper is designed to assess:

✔️ Numerical ability
✔️ Logical reasoning
✔️ General intelligence

There will be 50 multiple-choice and short-answer questions, and candidates must answer all questions.

💳 Examination Fee

The examination fee is:

💰 Rs. 600

The fee can be paid through the following methods provided by the online system:

🏦 Any Bank Credit Card
💳 Any Bank Debit Card
🏦 Bank of Ceylon Online Banking / Flex App
🧾 Bank of Ceylon Teller Slip Payment

Applicants must pay the full examination fee. Applications with an incorrect fee payment may be rejected. The examination fee will not be refunded or transferred to another examination.

🌐 How to Apply

Applicants should submit the application online only through the Department of Examinations, Sri Lanka.

🔗 Official Department of Examinations Website:
www.doenets.lk

The online application must be completed in English. Applicants are advised to download and carefully follow the Common Instructions before completing the application. Incomplete applications may be rejected without notice.

📌 Important: Applicants should not wait until the final day to submit their applications.

🗺️ Examination Centres

The examination is expected to be conducted in the following cities:

📍 Colombo
📍 Gampaha
📍 Kalutara
📍 Kandy
📍 Matale
📍 Nuwara Eliya
📍 Galle
📍 Matara
📍 Hambantota
📍 Jaffna
📍 Mannar
📍 Vavuniya
📍 Mullaitivu
📍 Kilinochchi
📍 Batticaloa
📍 Ampara
📍 Trincomalee
📍 Kurunegala
📍 Puttalam
📍 Anuradhapura
📍 Polonnaruwa
📍 Badulla
📍 Monaragala
📍 Ratnapura
📍 Kegalle

The Commissioner General of Examinations may cancel a centre or determine an alternative centre depending on the number of candidates or other circumstances.

📄 Admission Cards

Admission cards will be issued online to eligible applicants who have correctly submitted their applications and paid the required examination fee.

Candidates must have their signature-certified admission card to enter the examination hall.

🪪 Identity Documents Required

Candidates must establish their identity at the examination hall using one of the following:

🪪 National Identity Card
🛂 Valid Passport
🚗 Valid Sri Lankan Driving Licence

Candidates must also comply with the examination hall identification requirements specified in the Gazette.

🏆 Selection for Appointment

Candidates who achieve the required minimum marks will not automatically be called for an interview or appointed.

Candidates will be called for interviews according to the merit order based on written examination marks, subject to the number of vacancies available. The Gazette specifies that candidates corresponding to 30% of the vacancies will be called for interview according to merit order.

Successful candidates will initially be appointed subject to a one-year probation period. The posts are permanent and pensionable. Selected officers must also pass the first efficiency bar examination within three years of recruitment as specified in the Service Minute.

⚠️ Important Information for Applicants

Before applying, carefully check all eligibility requirements in the official Gazette.

❗ Temporary and casual government employees are not eligible.

❗ Employees of boards, corporations and similar institutions are not eligible.

❗ Certain employees engaged in semi-technical duties or specially trained for particular duties are not eligible.

❗ Applicants who do not possess the required qualifications may be disqualified even if they obtain sufficient marks at the examination.

❗ Providing false information may result in cancellation of candidature and may lead to dismissal from government service.

📢 Apply Before the Deadline

Eligible government officers interested in joining Grade III of the Management Service Officers’ Service should carefully review the Gazette notification and submit their online application before the deadline.

⏰ Closing Date: 25 September 2026 at 9.00 p.m.

📅 Expected Examination: December 2026

💰 Examination Fee: Rs. 600

🌐 Application: Department of Examinations – www.doenets.lk

📌 Always refer to the official Gazette notification for the complete eligibility requirements, examination rules and other conditions before applying.

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📥 Download the Official Gazette

📄 Management Service Officers’ Service Grade III Limited Competitive Examination – 2026

The complete Gazette notification contains the full eligibility criteria, examination syllabus, payment instructions, examination centres, service conditions and other important information.

👉 Download and read the official Gazette before submitting your application.

Source: Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka – 28 August 2026. The notification was issued by the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government.

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