⚓ Merchant Shipping Secretariat Vacancies 2026 – Port State Controller & Examiner (Engineering)

📢 Applications are invited from qualified Sri Lankan citizens for vacancies in the Merchant Shipping Secretariat under the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation.

The Public Service Commission has published a recruitment notice for the posts of Port State Controller (Engineering) and Examiner (Engineering) in the Merchant Shipping Secretariat.

According to the Gazette notice, one vacancy is available for each post.

📌 Available Vacancies

No.	Post	Vacancies
01	⚓ Port State Controller (Engineering)	01
02	🔧 Examiner (Engineering)	01

Recruiting Institution: Merchant Shipping Secretariat
Ministry: Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation
Recruitment Authority: Public Service Commission

🎓 Qualifications – Port State Controller (Engineering)

Applicants for the Port State Controller (Engineering) post should possess a Certificate of Competency as Chief Engineer issued by the Government Maritime Administration of Sri Lanka, or by one of the countries listed in the Gazette notice, or by a country having a bilateral agreement with Sri Lanka for recognition of such certificates.

Applicants must also have:

• ⚓ A minimum of 2 years’ experience as Chief Engineer
• 🚢 Experience on board a seagoing merchant vessel
• ⚙️ The vessel should have a capacity exceeding 300 kilowatts.

🌍 Recognized Certificate Countries

The Gazette specifically lists certificates issued by maritime administrations of:

• 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
• 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
• 🇦🇺 Australia
• 🇨🇦 Canada
• 🇨🇳 China
• 🇮🇳 India
• 🇵🇰 Pakistan
• 🇳🇿 New Zealand
• 🇲🇾 Malaysia
• 🇸🇬 Singapore
• 🇿🇦 South Africa
• 🇮🇪 Ireland

It also provides for recognition of certificates from countries that have entered into a bilateral agreement with Sri Lanka regarding recognition of such certificates.

👤 General Eligibility Requirements

The Gazette states that applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

🎂 Age

Applicants must be:

30 years or older and not more than 45 years old.

🇱🇰 Citizenship

Applicants must be citizens of Sri Lanka.

✅ Character

Applicants are required to be of excellent character.

💪 Physical Fitness

Candidates must be of sound physical and mental fitness to serve in any part of Sri Lanka and perform the duties assigned to the post.

⚠️ Important: The Gazette states that applicants must have fulfilled all the required qualifications in every respect as at the closing date for applications.

💰 Salary Scale

The salary scale specified in the Gazette is:

SL 1-2025 – Rs. 82,150 – 10 × Rs. 2,400 – 8 × Rs. 2,940 – 17 × Rs. 3,900 – Rs. 195,970 – Step 20.

📝 Method of Recruitment

Candidates who satisfy the required qualifications will be considered for recruitment through a structured interview conducted by a structured board appointed by the Public Service Commission.

The candidate obtaining the highest marks according to the approved structured-interview marking scheme will be recruited on a permanent basis.

📊 Structured Interview Marking Scheme

The Gazette provides a total of 100 marks.

No.	Area	Maximum Marks
01	🎓 Additional Educational Qualifications	30
02	⚓ Professional Qualifications	10
03	📈 Additional Experience	30
04	📚 Contribution to the Field	10
05	💻 Computer Literacy	15
06	🗣️ Skills Demonstrated at Interview	05
	Total	100

🎓 Additional Educational Qualifications – 30 Marks

Marks may be awarded for the highest relevant qualification, including:

• Postgraduate Degree in Marine Engineering
• Postgraduate Diploma in Marine Engineering
• Degree in Marine Engineering, Engineering, Nautical Science or Maritime Science

The qualifications must be obtained from a university or institution recognized by the University Grants Commission.

⚓ Professional Qualifications – 10 Marks

Professional courses from government-recognized institutions relating to areas such as:

• Maritime Surveillance
• Maritime Law and Regulations
• Maritime Inspections and Investigations
• International Standards for Maritime Safety and Security

may be considered for marks according to the duration of the course.

📈 Additional Experience – 30 Marks

Additional experience beyond the minimum experience specified in the recruitment qualifications can receive marks.

The scheme provides:

• 5 marks per year, up to a maximum of 30 marks
• 2 marks for more than 6 months and less than one year.

📚 Contribution to the Field – 10 Marks

Candidates may receive marks for a paper published in a nationally or internationally recognized academic journal related to the field, or for recognized approvals/certificates relating to patented inventions.

💻 Computer Literacy – 15 Marks

Relevant Information Technology, Computer Systems or Computer Applications courses may be considered where they relate to Marine Engineering, Navigation, Nautical Science, Maritime Science, or computer-based training and examinations.

🪪 Interview Identity Requirements

Only candidates whose applications are complete in every respect will be called for the structured interview.

Candidates must produce:

• 📜 Original certificates
• 📄 Properly certified photocopies
• 🪪 Valid National Identity Card or
• 🛂 Valid Passport

at the interview.

📮 How to Submit the Application

Applications should be submitted by registered post to:

Director General of Merchant Shipping
Merchant Shipping Secretariat
No. 79, Technical Junction
Maradana Road
Colombo 10

The application must reach the specified address by the closing date stated in the Gazette notice.

✍️ Application Form Requirements

Applicants should:

• Use A4-size paper
• Complete the application in their own handwriting
• Follow the specimen application form
• Place items 01–09 on Page 01
• Place items 10–15 on Page 02.

The top-left corner of the envelope should be marked:

“Application for the Post of Examiner (Engineering)/ Port State Controller (Engineering)”

✒️ Attestation of Applicant’s Signature

The applicant’s signature must be attested by an authorized person such as a:

• Principal of a Government School
• Justice of the Peace
• Commissioner for Oaths
• Attorney-at-Law
• Notary Public
• Commissioned Officer of the Armed Forces
• Permanent Government Officer drawing a monthly salary of Rs. 82,150 or more, according to the relevant circular mentioned in the notice.

Government and Provincial Public Service employees should submit their applications through the Head of their Department.

⚠️ Important Application Instructions

Applicants should carefully check the application before submission.

According to the Gazette:

• ❌ Applications that do not conform to the specimen application form may be rejected.
• ❌ Applications received after the closing date will be rejected.
• ⚠️ False or incorrect information can result in cancellation of candidature or dismissal after recruitment, subject to the relevant procedures.
• 📌 The Public Service Commission retains the power to fill or not to fill the vacancies.

📅 Important Dates

Gazette Date: 11 September 2026
Application closing date stated in the recruitment notice: 12 October 2026.

Important note: The extracted PDF text also contains an application-submission instruction stating that applications should reach the specified address on or before 05.12.2026. Because these two dates appear inconsistent within the source document, applicants should verify the original Gazette notice before submitting an application.

📋 Application Form Information

The specimen application requests information including:

• Applicant’s name
• Official and permanent addresses
• Telephone and mobile numbers
• Date of birth
• Age
• National Identity Card number
• Gender
• Marital status
• Educational qualifications
• Professional qualifications
• Employment experience
• Computer literacy
• Relevant declaration
• Signature attestation
• Recommendation of Head of Department for public-service applicants.

⚓ Merchant Shipping Secretariat Vacancies 2026 – Summary

If you are a qualified maritime professional looking for a government-sector opportunity in Sri Lanka, this Gazette notice provides recruitment information for:

🔹 Port State Controller (Engineering) – 01 vacancy
🔹 Examiner (Engineering) – 01 vacancy

Applicants should carefully review the complete Gazette notice, confirm that they meet all eligibility requirements, complete the prescribed application correctly, and submit it according to the official instructions.

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