The Department of National Archives under the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs has announced an Open Competitive Examination for recruitment to Grade III National Archives Assistant Director positions – 2026.

There are three vacancies, with one position available in each of the following fields:

• 🧪 National Archives Assistant Director (Technical) – 01 vacancy
• 💻 National Archives Assistant Director (Electronic Records & Digitization) – 01 vacancy
• 🎬 National Archives Assistant Director (Films & Audio Visual) – 01 vacancy

The recruitment will be carried out through a written competitive examination followed by a competency evaluation interview.

---

📢 National Archives Assistant Director Vacancies 2026

Position	Vacancies
🧪 Assistant Director – Technical	01
💻 Assistant Director – Electronic Records & Digitization	01
🎬 Assistant Director – Films & Audio Visual	01
Total	03

These positions belong to the Executive Service Grade III of the Department of National Archives.

---

📅 Important Application Details

🔔 Application Closing Date: 25 September 2026

📍 Application Method: Applications prepared according to the specimen application attached to the Gazette notice must be sent by registered post.

📮 Address:

Director General of National Archives
Department of National Archives
No. 07, Philip Gunawardena Mawatha
Colombo 07
Sri Lanka

Applicants are required to clearly indicate the examination name on the upper-left corner of the envelope.

⚠️ Important: Applications or related letters delayed or lost in the post will not be considered. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their applications reach the relevant authority by the closing date.

---

🧪 1. Assistant Director – Technical

The Technical Assistant Director is responsible for duties connected with the preservation, restoration and reproduction of archival records.

🔧 Main Duties

The duties include:

• 📚 Providing necessary guidance on the preservation and restoration of records.
• 🖨️ Providing guidance on document reproduction.
• 🔬 Conducting quality inspections of materials used for archival preservation.
• 🎞️ Providing technical and scientific observations relating to films and audio-visual materials.
• 🧬 Supporting research into deterioration of films and audio-visual records.
• 🏢 Advising government and private institutions on records preservation and reproduction.
• 🧪 Conducting and guiding chemical research relating to preventive preservation, conservation and restoration.
• 👥 Setting work targets for subordinate officers and supervising their duties.

The officer may also perform other duties assigned by the relevant National Archives Director and the Director General of National Archives.

---

💻 2. Assistant Director – Electronic Records & Digitization

This position focuses on electronic records management, digital preservation and digitization.

🖥️ Main Duties

The responsibilities include:

• 💾 Identifying software required for acquiring electronic records.
• 🏢 Providing guidance to government institutions on electronic records acquisition.
• 🗄️ Maintaining an electronic archive.
• 📋 Implementing relevant standards for electronic archives.
• 🔄 Taking steps to transfer electronic records to suitable media for long-term preservation.
• 📑 Introducing standards required for digitizing records.
• 👥 Setting work targets and supervising subordinate officers.

This position also involves carrying out other duties assigned by the relevant National Archives Director and Director General.

---

🎬 3. Assistant Director – Films & Audio Visual

The Films & Audio Visual position focuses on the acquisition, management, preservation and digitization of film and audio-visual archives.

🎥 Main Duties

The duties include:

• 🎞️ Acquiring and managing film and audio-visual records.
• 📝 Implementing policies relating to identification and description of these records.
• 🗄️ Maintaining film and audio-visual archives.
• 🛡️ Identifying preservation and restoration requirements.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Identifying formats necessary to make film and audio-visual records accessible to the public.
• 💻 Identifying computer hardware and software required for digitization according to current standards.
• 👥 Setting work targets and supervising subordinate officers.

Other duties assigned by the relevant National Archives Director and Director General may also be included.

---

🎓 Educational Qualifications

The required qualifications differ according to the position.

🧪 Technical Position

Applicants should possess either:

• 🎓 A Bachelor’s Special Degree in Archival Preservation or Chemistry, from a recognized university/institution; or
• 🎓 A general Bachelor’s Degree in Archival Preservation or Chemistry together with a postgraduate degree.

Applicants must also have the required English language qualification specified in the Gazette, such as the relevant G.C.E. O/L English credit pass, G.C.E. A/L English/General English pass, or a degree completed in English medium.

💻 Electronic Records & Digitization Position

Applicants should possess either:

• 🎓 A Bachelor’s Special Degree in Computer Science, Computer & Engineering Technology, Information & Communication Technology, or Information Technology; or
• 🎓 A general Bachelor’s Degree in one of those fields together with a postgraduate degree.

The specified English language requirement must also be satisfied.

🎬 Films & Audio Visual Position

Applicants should possess either:

• 🎓 A Bachelor’s Special Degree in Arts, Visual Arts or Fine Arts; or
• 🎓 A general Bachelor’s Degree in one of these fields together with a postgraduate degree.

The specified English language requirement also applies to this position.

---

🎯 Age Limit and Other Requirements

Applicants must meet the following basic requirements:

• 🎂 Must be not less than 21 years of age.
• 🎂 Must be not more than 35 years of age as at the closing date.
• 🇱🇰 Must be a Sri Lankan citizen.
• ⭐ Must possess an excellent character.
• 💪 Must be physically and mentally fit to perform the duties of the position and serve anywhere in Sri Lanka.
• 📅 All required qualifications must have been completed by the closing date.

The Gazette also states that the effective date of the degree qualification must be on or before the application closing date.

---

💰 Salary Scale

The selected candidates will receive the SL1-2025 salary scale according to Public Administration Circular No. 10/2025 dated 25 March 2025.

💵 Salary Scale

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

Salary payments will be made according to the relevant provisions of the salary circular.

---

📝 Selection Method

Recruitment will be conducted through:

1️⃣ Written Competitive Examination

Candidates must sit all papers and obtain at least 50% marks in each subject.

Candidates who meet this requirement will be ranked according to their marks, and candidates equivalent to four times the number of available vacancies will be called for the competency evaluation interview.

2️⃣ Competency Evaluation Interview

The final selection will be based on the combined marks obtained at the written examination and competency evaluation interview.

The interview may consider areas such as:

• 💡 Additional educational qualifications
• 🎓 Professional qualifications
• 💼 Relevant work experience
• 🧠 Strengths
• 🎯 Situational decision-making
• ⭐ Competencies

The competency interview itself does not mean that an applicant has automatically completed all requirements for appointment.

---

📚 Written Examination

The written examination will be conducted by the Director General of the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA).

The examination includes two papers:

🧠 1. Intelligence Test

Duration: 1 hour
Total Marks: 100
Pass Marks: 50

The paper is designed to assess general intelligence, reasoning ability, analytical skills, numerical and language-related abilities, interpretation, application of concepts and ability to reach conclusions.

✍️ 2. English Writing Skills

Duration: 2 hours
Total Marks: 100
Pass Marks: 50

The syllabus includes:

• Modern formats and writing styles
• Internal communication
• Formal correspondence
• Description and explanation
• Grammar
• Summary writing
• Report writing
• Reading comprehension
• Translation skills

The comprehension section assesses the candidate’s ability to understand printed text, infer meaning and provide written interpretation.

---

💳 Examination Fee

The examination fee is:

💰 Rs. 1,200

The fee must be credited to the specified People’s Bank, Thimbirigasyaya Branch account in the name of the Director General of National Archives.

The payment receipt must be attached to the application as instructed in the Gazette notice.

❗ Money orders and stamps will not be accepted for the examination fee.

The examination fee is also non-refundable and cannot be transferred to another examination. Applicants are advised to keep a copy of the receipt.

---

🏙️ Examination Centre

The examination will be held only at examination centres established in Colombo.

📅 The date of the examination will be announced later.

---

🌐 Examination Language

The examination will be conducted in:

• 🇱🇰 Sinhala
• தமிழ் Tamil
• 🇬🇧 English

Applicants must answer all examination papers in the language selected in the application. The examination medium cannot subsequently be changed.

---

📮 How to Apply

Applicants should carefully follow these steps:

✅ Step 1

Prepare the application using the specimen application form attached to the Gazette notice.

✅ Step 2

Select the relevant position or positions according to the instructions in the Gazette.

✅ Step 3

Pay the Rs. 1,200 examination fee to the specified bank account.

✅ Step 4

Attach the payment receipt to the designated place on the application.

✅ Step 5

Complete the application clearly and accurately.

✅ Step 6

Have the applicant’s signature certified by an authorized person as specified in the Gazette.

✅ Step 7

Send the completed application by registered post to:

Director General of National Archives
Department of National Archives
No. 07, Philip Gunawardena Mawatha
Colombo 07

⏰ Step 8

Ensure that the application reaches the relevant address on or before 25 September 2026.

Incomplete applications or applications that do not comply with the specimen application format may be rejected without notice. Applicants should also keep a copy of their completed application and postal receipt.

📋 Documents & Information Required in the Application

The specimen application includes sections for:

• 👤 Full name
• 🏠 Permanent address
• 📬 Address for sending the admission card
• 🪪 National Identity Card number
• ⚧️ Gender
• 🎂 Date of birth and age
• 💼 Position/positions applied for
• 📱 Mobile telephone number
• 📧 Email address
• 🎓 Educational qualifications
• 💳 Examination fee/payment details
• ✍️ Applicant declaration
• 🖊️ Certification of applicant’s signature
• 🏢 Recommendation of the head of institution for applicants from government institutions

The specimen application is included in the Gazette notice.

⚠️ Important Instructions for Applicants

🔴 Do not submit an incomplete application.

🔴 Do not attach documents or copies of documents to the application unless specifically required by the notice.

🔴 The application must follow the specimen application format.

🔴 Applicants should keep copies of the completed application, payment receipt and registered-post receipt.

🔴 Government, provincial government and state corporation employees must submit applications through their relevant institutional heads where required.

🔴 The admission card must be produced at the examination centre.

🪪 Admission to the Examination

Eligible applicants will receive admission cards issued by the Director General of SLIDA.

Candidates must produce their admission card at the examination centre. They must also establish their identity using an accepted identification document, such as:

• National Identity Card
• Valid passport
• Valid Sri Lankan driving licence

The Gazette states that candidates must be identifiable at the examination centre without covering the face and ears.

---

📌 Quick Summary

📌 Detail	Information
🏛️ Department	Department of National Archives
💼 Positions	Assistant Director – Technical, Electronic Records & Digitization, Films & Audio Visual
🔢 Total Vacancies	03
🎖️ Grade	Executive Service Grade III
🎓 Minimum Education	Relevant Bachelor’s degree / relevant degree + postgraduate qualification
🎂 Age	21–35 years
💰 Salary	Rs. 82,150 – Rs. 195,970
📝 Selection	Written Examination + Competency Evaluation Interview
💳 Exam Fee	Rs. 1,200
🗣️ Exam Medium	Sinhala / Tamil / English
🏙️ Exam Centre	Colombo
📅 Exam Date	To be announced later
⏰ Closing Date	25 September 2026
📮 Application	Registered Post

---

🚨 Don’t Miss the Deadline!

If you meet the educational, age and other eligibility requirements, make sure your application is prepared according to the official specimen application and reaches the Department of National Archives by 25 September 2026.

📌 Important: Applicants should carefully read the complete official Gazette notification before submitting their applications, particularly the qualification requirements, examination conditions and application instructions.

---

🔔 Final Reminder

National Archives Assistant Director Jobs 2026 offer three Grade III opportunities in specialized fields covering archival preservation, electronic records and digitization, and films and audio-visual archives.

📅 Application Deadline: 25 September 2026

💰 Salary: Rs. 82,150 – Rs. 195,970 per month

🎯 Vacancies: 03

📮 Apply by Registered Post

Good luck to all eligible applicants! 🇱🇰🎓

📢 Gazette Advertisement – Sinhala Preview

---