๐ Efficiency Bar Examination III 2026 for Teachers โ Sri Lanka
The Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education has announced the Efficiency Bar Examination III for 2026 for eligible teachers serving in Pirivenas, government-approved private schools, and assisted special schools.
The examination will be conducted by the Department of Examinations, Sri Lanka, in December 2026 in accordance with the relevant amendments to the Sri Lanka Teacher Service Minute.
๐ Who Can Apply?
The examination is open to:
- ๐จโ๐ซ Pirivena Teachers
- ๐ซ Approved appointment-holding teachers in government-approved private schools
- ๐ Approved appointment-holding teachers in assisted special schools
Only officers specified under Section 12.0 of the relevant services are eligible to apply.
๐ Important Application Dates
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| ๐ Application Opening | 14 September 2026 โ 9:00 AM |
| โฐ Application Closing | 30 September 2026 โ 9:00 PM |
| ๐ฅ๏ธ Application Method | Online Only |
| ๐ฐ Examination Fee | No Examination Fee |
| ๐ Examination | Efficiency Bar Examination III โ 2026 |
| ๐ Examination Period | December 2026 |
Applications are available through the Department of Examinations, Sri Lanka website under Our Services โ Online Applications โ Recruitment/E.B. Exams. Applications must be submitted online.
๐ฐ Examination Fee
Good news for applicants: no examination fee will be charged, as this is the first time this Efficiency Bar Examination is being conducted.
๐ฅ๏ธ How to Apply
Applicants should carefully follow these steps:
- ๐ Visit the Department of Examinations, Sri Lanka website.
- ๐ Go to Our Services.
- ๐ฑ๏ธ Select Online Applications โ Recruitment/E.B. Exams.
- โ๏ธ Complete the online application in English.
- ๐ฅ Submit the application before the closing date.
- ๐จ๏ธ Download the submitted application.
- ๐ Obtain two printed copies.
- โ๏ธ Complete the relevant sections by hand.
- ๐๏ธ Have the applicant’s signature properly attested.
- ๐ One copy, together with the certification of the Zonal Director of Education, must be included in the applicant’s personal file.
- ๐ Keep the other copy with the applicant for future reference.
The Department will notify applicants by SMS or email whether the submitted application has been accepted or rejected as a valid application. Incomplete applications will be rejected without notification.
โ ๏ธ Important Application Instructions
Applicants should carefully follow the instructions because amendments made after obtaining a printed copy of the application will not be considered valid.
The Gazette also states that applicants bear the consequences of delaying submission until the closing date.
โฟ Special Needs Applicants
Applicants with special needs must indicate this in the application form.
Copies of the relevant medical certificates must also be submitted to the Department of Examinations together with a printed copy of the application.
๐ชช Documents Accepted for Identification
Candidates must prove their identity inside the examination hall. The following documents are accepted:
- ๐ชช National Identity Card (NIC)
- ๐ Valid Passport
- ๐ Valid Sri Lankan Driving Licence
Candidates must also enter the examination hall with their face and ears uncovered so that identity can be verified and the use of electronic communication devices can be checked.
๐ซ Examination Admission Card
The Commissioner General of Examinations will issue examination admission cards online only to applicants who have submitted accurately completed applications on or before the closing date.
Applicants will be informed through a web notice or SMS when admission cards are issued.
If an applicant does not receive an admission card, they should contact the relevant Institutional Examinations Organization Branch according to the instructions in the web notice.
The admission card should be checked carefully. Any necessary corrections must be requested before the examination because amendment requests made at the examination hall will not be considered.
๐๏ธ Attestation of Admission Card
The applicant’s signature on the examination admission card must be attested by the Zonal Director of Education or an officer authorized by the Zonal Director.
Candidates will not be permitted to sit the examination without the required admission card.
๐ Examination Centres
The examination will be conducted at examination centres established in the cities listed in Schedule I.
Applicants cannot subsequently change their requested city/cities. If there are insufficient applicants to establish a centre in a selected city, candidates may be redirected to their second preference or another adjacent city.
If insufficient numbers apply across most proposed cities, the Commissioner General of Examinations may arrange for the examination to be conducted in Colombo only.
๐บ๏ธ Examination Centre Cities
| No. | District / City | No. | District / City |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Colombo | 14 | Kilinochchi |
| 02 | Gampaha | 15 | Batticaloa |
| 03 | Kalutara | 16 | Ampara |
| 04 | Kandy | 17 | Trincomalee |
| 05 | Matale | 18 | Kurunegala |
| 06 | Nuwara Eliya | 19 | Puttalam |
| 07 | Galle | 20 | Anuradhapura |
| 08 | Matara | 21 | Polonnaruwa |
| 09 | Hambantota | 22 | Badulla |
| 10 | Jaffna | 23 | Monaragala |
| 11 | Mannar | 24 | Ratnapura |
| 12 | Vavuniya | 25 | Kegalle |
| 13 | Mullaitivu |
The above locations are listed in Schedule I of the Gazette notification.
๐ Examination Medium
The examination will be conducted in:
- ๐ฑ๐ฐ Sinhala
- เฎคเฎฎเฎฟเฎดเฏ Tamil
- ๐ฌ๐ง English
Candidates may sit the examination in the language medium relevant to their appointment or in an official language. All question papers must be answered in the same medium, and the selected medium cannot subsequently be changed.
โณ Efficiency Bar III Requirement
The Gazette states that the Efficiency Bar Examination III must be completed before the lapse of four years from promotion to Class 2, Grade I of the relevant services.
Teachers who were promoted to Grade 2-I more than four years ago but had not received Grade I promotions after 30 June 2025 must also complete the Efficiency Bar III examination requirement to receive Grade I promotions.
๐ Examination Structure
The written examination consists of two papers:
| Paper | Question Type | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| ๐ Paper I | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) | 1 Hour | 40 |
| ๐ Paper II | Structured / Semi-Structured Questions | 2 Hours | 60 |
Paper I consists of 40 multiple-choice questions, while Paper II consists of 4 semi-structured questions. All questions in both papers must be answered.
๐ Efficiency Bar III Syllabus
The syllabus consists of the following self-study modules:
- ๐ง Physical and Mental Well-being
- ๐ซ The Twenty-First Century School
- ๐ฌ Action Research
The questions will be prepared based on the relevant self-study modules published on the official e-thaksalawa website by the Ministry responsible for Education.
โ Pass Requirement
Candidates must obtain an aggregate total of 40% or more from the marks of Paper I and Paper II to pass the examination.
๐ Examination Results
The Commissioner General of Examinations will forward examination results to the Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, with results classified by province.
The Department of Examinations will also provide an opportunity for applicants to download their Efficiency Bar examination results for purposes including confirmation of appointment and grade promotions.
Downloaded result sheets must be submitted to the Zonal Director of Education for verification and inclusion in the relevant officer’s personal file.
๐จ Important Notice for Applicants
Applicants should carefully read the complete Gazette notification and follow the official instructions when submitting their applications.
Application period: 14 September 2026 at 9:00 AM to 30 September 2026 at 9:00 PM.
Since the application closing date is specified in the Gazette, eligible applicants should ensure that their online applications are completed correctly and submitted within the prescribed period.
๐ฅ Download the Official Gazette PDF
The complete Gazette notification contains the full examination rules, application instructions, syllabus, examination structure, eligibility requirements and examination centre information.
Official Gazette: Efficiency Bar Examination III for Pirivena Teachers, Approved Appointment-Holding Teachers in Government-Approved Private Schools, and Approved Appointment-Holding Teachers in Assisted Special Schools โ 2026.
Gazette Date: 11 September 2026
Ministry: Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education
Examination: Efficiency Bar Examination III โ 2026
Examination Month: December 2026
๐ Key Details at a Glance
- ๐ Examination: Efficiency Bar Examination III โ 2026
- ๐จโ๐ซ For: Eligible teachers specified in the Gazette
- ๐ Application Opens: 14 September 2026
- โฐ Application Closes: 30 September 2026 at 9:00 PM
- ๐ฅ๏ธ Application: Online only
- ๐ฐ Fee: No examination fee
- ๐ Papers: 2
- โฑ๏ธ Total Examination Time: 3 hours
- ๐ฏ Total Marks: 100
- โ Pass Requirement: 40% aggregate
- ๐ Examination: December 2026
- ๐บ๏ธ Centres: 25 listed district/city locations
Source: Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Part I: Section (IIA), dated 11 September 2026. The notification was issued by the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education.
๐ข Gazette Advertisement โ Sinhala Preview
๐ข Gazette Advertisement โ English Preview
Source โ Gazette (2026.09.11)
