🏢 Hostel Warden Exam 2026 – Department of Export Agriculture
The Department of Export Agriculture has announced an Open Competitive Examination for recruitment to the post of Hostel Warden, Class III, Management Assistant Non-Technical Service Category.
The recruitment is being conducted to fill a vacancy that existed as of December 31, 2024. Applications are invited from eligible Sri Lankan citizens.
📢 Hostel Warden Recruitment 2026 – Quick Details
| 📌 Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏛️ Department | Department of Export Agriculture |
| 💼 Post | Hostel Warden |
| 📊 Service Category | Management Assistant Non-Technical Service Category – Class III |
| 📝 Recruitment Method | Open Competitive Examination |
| 👥 Vacancies | 01 |
| 🎂 Age Limit | 18–30 years |
| 💰 Salary Scale | Rs. 45,230 – 78,360 |
| 💵 Examination Fee | Rs. 1,000 |
| 📅 Application Closing Date | September 28, 2026 |
| 📍 Examination Centre | Kandy |
| 🗣️ Examination Medium | Sinhala, Tamil or English |
The official notice specifies one vacancy, located at the Department of Export Agriculture Service Training Centre in Matale. Selected candidates will be subject to a three-year probationary period.
🎂 Age Limit
Applicants must be at least 18 years old and not more than 30 years old.
For this examination, the applicant’s date of birth must fall between:
- 📅 September 28, 1996
- 📅 September 28, 2008
inclusive, according to the age requirement stated in the Gazette notice.
🎓 Educational Qualifications
Applicants must satisfy the required educational qualifications by the closing date of applications.
📚 G.C.E. Ordinary Level
Applicants must have passed the G.C.E. (O/L) Examination in six subjects at one sitting, including:
- 🇱🇰 Sinhala
- 🇱🇰 Tamil
- 🇬🇧 English
- ➗ Mathematics
- 📖 Two additional subjects
The required passes must include the qualifications specified in the Gazette notification.
🎓 G.C.E. Advanced Level
Applicants must have passed at least one subject at the G.C.E. (A/L) Examination, excluding the General Common Test.
💼 Professional Qualification
No professional qualification is required for this post.
🏨 Required Experience
Applicants must have one year of experience related to:
- 🏠 Managing and maintaining hostels
- 🍛 Providing food
- 💰 Maintaining relevant accounts
The experience should be from a government institution, corporation, government-recognized hotel, school hostel or rest house, as specified in the notice.
💰 Salary
The post carries the salary scale:
💵 Rs. 45,230 – Rs. 78,360
The Gazette specifies the salary progression as Rs. 45,230 – 10 × 540 – 11 × 630 – 10 × 890 – 10 × 1,190 – Rs. 78,360, with the stated salary entitlement applying from January 1, 2027.
The post is permanent and pensionable, subject to the applicable government policies and pension scheme provisions.
📝 How to Apply
Applicants must prepare their applications according to the specimen application form published at the end of the Gazette notice.
The application should be prepared on A4-size paper (21 cm × 29 cm), using both sides of the paper as instructed in the notice. Applicants must enter the required information clearly in their own handwriting and use the language medium in which they intend to sit the examination.
📮 Application Address
Completed applications should be sent by registered post on or before September 28, 2026 to:
Director General
Department of Export Agriculture
1095, Sirimavo Bandaranaike Mawatha
Gatambe, Peradeniya
The name of the examination should be clearly written on the top-left corner of the envelope.
💳 Examination Fee
The examination fee is:
💰 Rs. 1,000.00
The fee must be paid by obtaining a Money Order from any post office or sub-post office in Sri Lanka, payable in a manner specified in the Gazette to the Director General of Export Agriculture, with the relevant postal arrangements stated in the notice.
The original Money Order should be attached to the application, and applicants are advised to retain a photocopy for their records.
⚠️ Important: The examination fee will not be refunded or transferred to another examination.
⚠️ Important Application Instructions
Applicants should carefully check their applications before posting them.
Applications may be rejected without prior notice if they:
- ❌ Do not follow the prescribed specimen application
- ❌ Are incomplete
- ❌ Are received after the closing date
- ❌ Do not include the required examination fee information
- ❌ Fail to comply with the other requirements in the Gazette
Applicants are advised to keep copies of the completed application and Money Order for future reference.
✍️ Signature Certification
The applicant’s signature on both the application form and examination admission card must be properly certified.
Government employees should submit their applications through their Head of Institution. Other applicants must have their signatures certified by an authorized person listed in the Gazette, such as an appropriate government officer, Grama Niladhari, Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for Oaths, Attorney-at-Law, Notary Public or authorized officer.
🧠 Examination Procedure
The examination will consist of two papers:
| 📝 Examination | ⏱️ Duration | 🎯 Maximum Marks | ✅ Pass Mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🧠 Intelligence Test | 1½ hours | 100 | 40% |
| 📚 Aptitude Test for Measuring Subject Knowledge | 1½ hours | 100 | 40% |
🧠 1. Intelligence Test
This paper contains multiple-choice questions designed to assess:
- 🗣️ Language ability
- ➗ Mathematical ability
- 🧩 Logical reasoning ability
📚 2. Subject Knowledge & Aptitude Test
This paper consists of short questions covering subjects relevant to the Hostel Warden position.
🌐 Examination Languages
The examination will be conducted in:
- 🇱🇰 Sinhala
- 🇱🇰 Tamil
- 🇬🇧 English
Candidates must sit all the relevant question papers in one selected language medium. The language medium selected at the time of application cannot subsequently be changed.
📍 Examination Centre
The examination will be held only in Kandy.
When admission cards are issued, the Department of Export Agriculture will publish an announcement on its official website:
Applicants who do not receive their admission card even after four or five days from the publication of the relevant notice should contact the Department using the telephone number stated in the Gazette:
☎️ 081 206 8381
🪪 Documents Accepted for Identification
Candidates must establish their identity at the examination hall.
The following identification documents are accepted:
- 🪪 National Identity Card
- 🌍 Valid Passport
- 🚗 Valid Sri Lankan Driving Licence
Candidates who cannot satisfactorily establish their identity will not be permitted to sit the examination.
🏆 Selection Process
Candidates who obtain 40% or more in each required examination paper will be considered according to their total marks.
Candidates equivalent to five times the number of vacancies will be called for a structured interview based on merit.
As there is one vacancy, the selection process provides for candidates to be called for the structured interview according to the prescribed procedure, with the highest-performing eligible candidate ultimately selected for the vacancy.
📊 Structured Interview – Mark Allocation
| 📌 Area | 🎯 Maximum Marks |
|---|---|
| 🎓 Additional Educational Qualifications | 20 |
| 💼 Additional Professional Qualifications | 25 |
| 🏨 Additional Experience | 30 |
| 🗣️ Language Proficiency | 10 |
| 💻 Computer Skills | 10 |
| ⭐ Skills Demonstrated at the Interview | 5 |
| Total | 100 |
The Gazette provides the above areas for assessing candidates during the structured interview.
📋 Specimen Application Form
The Gazette includes a specimen application form for the Open Competitive Examination for Recruitment to the Post of Hostel Warden of Class III of the Management Assistant Non-Technical Service Category in the Department of Export Agriculture – 2026.
The application form requests information including:
- 📝 Examination language
- 👤 Full name
- 🏠 Permanent address
- 📱 Telephone number
- 📧 Email address
- 🪪 National Identity Card number
- 🎂 Date of birth
- 🎓 G.C.E. O/L qualifications
- 🎓 G.C.E. A/L qualifications
- 🏨 Experience
- 💳 Examination fee details
- ✍️ Applicant’s certification and signature
- 🏛️ Signature certification
- 👔 Head of Institution certification for government employees
Applicants should use the official specimen form and carefully complete all required sections.
⏰ Important Deadline
🔴 Application Closing Date: September 28, 2026
Make sure your completed application reaches the Director General, Department of Export Agriculture, Peradeniya by the closing date through registered post. Late applications may be rejected.
✅ Hostel Warden Exam 2026 – Applicant Checklist
Before sending your application, make sure you have:
☑️ Checked the age requirement
☑️ Confirmed your G.C.E. O/L qualifications
☑️ Confirmed your G.C.E. A/L qualification
☑️ Confirmed the required one-year experience
☑️ Completed the prescribed application form
☑️ Selected your examination language
☑️ Paid the Rs. 1,000 examination fee
☑️ Attached the original Money Order as instructed
☑️ Had your signature properly certified
☑️ Attached the required certified educational certificates
☑️ Made copies of your application and Money Order for your records
☑️ Sent the application by registered post before September 28, 2026
📌 Final Reminder
The Hostel Warden Exam 2026 provides an opportunity to apply for a Class III position in the Department of Export Agriculture. Interested applicants should carefully read the official Gazette notification and ensure that all educational, experience, age and application requirements are satisfied before submitting their applications.
Always follow the original Gazette notification and official instructions when preparing and submitting your application.
📅 Closing Date: September 28, 2026
💰 Exam Fee: Rs. 1,000
👥 Vacancies: 01
📍 Exam Centre: Kandy
🏛️ Department: Department of Export Agriculture
📢 Gazette Advertisement – Sinhala Preview
Source – Gazette (2026.08.31)
