๐ Sri Lanka Railway Security Officer Recruitment 2026 โ 256 Vacancies
The Sri Lanka Railway Department has announced an Open Competitive Examination for Recruitment to the Railway Security Service โ Railway Security Officer (Male/Female) Grade III โ 2026.
A total of 256 vacancies are available, including 239 vacancies for male applicants and 17 vacancies for female applicants. Applications are invited from qualified Sri Lankan citizens.
๐ Application Deadline: 28 September 2026
๐ข Sri Lanka Railway Security Officer Recruitment 2026
The recruitment is conducted for the Railway Security Officer (Male/Female) position in the Railway Security Service of the Sri Lanka Railway Department.
๐ Vacancy Details
| Position | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| ๐ Railway Security Officer โ Male | 239 |
| ๐ Railway Security Officer โ Female | 17 |
| Total | 256 |
The Gazette notice states that 256 vacancies are available in total.
๐ฐ Salary Scale
The monthly salary scale applicable to this position is RS 1-2025: Rs. 49,550 โ 7 ร Rs. 540 โ 27 ร Rs. 670 โ Rs. 71,420.
The initial salary is Rs. 49,550 per month. In addition, other allowances paid to government officers from time to time will be applicable.
๐ต Salary Highlights
- ๐ฐ Starting Salary: Rs. 49,550
- ๐ Maximum Salary: Rs. 71,420
- ๐๏ธ Salary Scale: RS 1-2025
- ๐ Other applicable government allowances may also be paid.
๐ Educational Qualifications
Applicants must have passed the G.C.E. Ordinary Level (O/L) Examination in not more than two attempts.
The required qualification includes:
- โ Pass in six subjects
- โ At least two Credit Passes
- โ Sinhala/Tamil/English and Mathematics must be among the subjects passed.
๐ Age Limit
Applicants must meet the following age requirement as at 28 September 2026:
- ๐น Minimum age: 18 years
- ๐น Maximum age: 28 years
According to the Gazette, applicants born on or before 28 September 2008 and on or after 29 September 1997 are eligible to apply, subject to the other requirements.
๐ Physical Qualifications
Applicants must have sufficient physical and mental fitness to perform the duties of the position and to serve in any part of Sri Lanka.
๐ Height Requirements
- ๐จ Male applicants: Minimum 5 feet 6 inches (5′ 6″)
- ๐ฉ Female applicants: Minimum 5 feet 2 inches (5′ 2″)
The height is measured without footwear.
๐๏ธ Eyesight
Applicants must have the required eyesight standard without spectacles, subject to passing the specified eye examination.
๐ช Chest Measurement
- ๐จ Male applicants: Minimum chest measurement of 32 inches.
๐ฑ๐ฐ Other Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
- ๐ฑ๐ฐ Be a Sri Lankan citizen.
- ๐ Be unmarried.
- โญ Have excellent character.
- ๐ Fulfil all required qualifications by the date specified in the recruitment notice.
- ๐งโโ๏ธ Be physically and mentally capable of performing the duties of the position.
Persons holding religious orders are not permitted to apply for or sit the competitive examination.
๐๏ธ Preliminary Physical & Aptitude Assessment
All applicants will be required to undergo a preliminary assessment. Applicants who obtain 50% or more of the total marks among those who sit the assessment will be referred for the written examination.
The preliminary assessment includes:
| Activity | Requirement | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|
| ๐ 1,000m Run | Under 3 minutes โ 30 marks | 30 |
| ๐ช Chin-ups | 5 repetitions | 15 |
| ๐คธ Push-ups | 15 repetitions | 15 |
| ๐๏ธ Sit-ups | 15 repetitions | 15 |
| ๐ฅ Squat Thrust | 15 repetitions | 15 |
| ๐ง Kim’s Game / Memory Test | Observation & recall | 10 |
For the 1,000m run, a time of more than 5 minutes is considered a fail. The other physical activities are conducted within one minute, according to the Gazette notice.
๐ Written Examination
The written examination will be conducted in Sinhala, Tamil and English. Applicants cannot subsequently change the language medium stated in their application.
The examination consists of two question papers:
1๏ธโฃ Intelligence Test
- ๐ Maximum Marks: 100
- โ Minimum Pass Mark: 50
- โฑ๏ธ Duration: 1 hour
The paper consists of multiple-choice questions covering areas such as logical reasoning, quick decision-making, numerical problems, mathematical problems, language sections, tables, flow charts, pictures and graphs.
2๏ธโฃ Language Proficiency
- ๐ Maximum Marks: 100
- โ Minimum Pass Mark: 50
- โฑ๏ธ Duration: 2 hours
This paper evaluates the applicant’s ability to express ideas clearly and correctly, report writing, grammar, comprehension and official/office correspondence. It includes short-answer, essay and structured questions.
โ ๏ธ Important
Applicants must sit all question papers of the written examination.
๐ค Structured Interview
Applicants who obtain at least 50% marks in each of the two written examination subjects and qualify according to the required merit order will be called for a structured interview.
The maximum marks available at the interview are 50, with the selection process considering the combined performance in the written examination and structured interview.
๐ Interview Assessment
| Area | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|
| ๐ Additional Educational Qualifications | 20 |
| ๐ค Leadership & Community Service | 20 |
| ๐ Sports Skills | 30 |
| ๐ป Language & IT Knowledge | 25 |
| ๐ฃ๏ธ Skills Demonstrated at Interview | 5 |
| Total | 100 |
The Gazette provides additional marks for qualifications such as recognised university degrees, NVQ Level 4 or above, G.C.E. A/L passes, leadership/community service, sports achievements, language knowledge and IT knowledge.
๐ณ Examination Fee
The examination fee is:
๐ฐ Rs. 1,200.00
The fee must be paid on or before the application closing date through any People’s Bank branch to the account specified in the Gazette notice.
Applicants must attach the relevant payment receipt to the application and retain a photocopy of the receipt for future reference.
โ ๏ธ The examination fee is non-refundable. Money orders and stamps will not be accepted.
๐ฎ How to Apply
Applicants must prepare the application according to the specimen application form attached to the Gazette notification.
The application may be prepared on A4 paper, following the page arrangement specified in the notice. Applications prepared using a computer or typewriter may also be used.
Incomplete applications or applications that do not conform to the specimen application may be rejected without notice.
๐ฌ Mailing Address
Completed applications must be sent by registered post so that they reach the following address on or before 28 September 2026:
General Manager of Railways
Appointments Branch
Railway Headquarters
Olcott Mawatha
P.O. Box 355
Colombo 10
Sri Lanka
โ๏ธ Envelope
The following recruitment examination title should be clearly written on the top-left corner of the envelope:
โOpen Competitive Examination for Recruitment to Railway Security (Male/Female) of Railway Security Service in Sri Lanka Railway Department โ 2026โ
โ๏ธ Signature Certification
The applicant’s signature on the application and examination admission card must be certified by an authorised person, such as a government school principal, Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for Oaths, Attorney-at-Law, Notary Public, authorised officer of the armed forces, gazetted police officer or a staff-grade officer holding a permanent government post.
๐ชช Examination Admission & Identification
Eligible applicants who submit a properly completed application with the required examination fee will be issued an admission card.
Applicants must produce the admission card to sit the examination.
For identification at the examination centre, the following documents are accepted:
- ๐ชช National Identity Card
- ๐ Valid Passport
- ๐ Valid Driving Licence
๐ฃ๏ธ Examination Language
The examination will be conducted in:
- ๐ฑ๐ฐ Sinhala
- เฎคเฎฎเฎฟเฎดเฏ Tamil
- ๐ฌ๐ง English
Applicants must sit the examination in the language in which they obtained their educational qualification or in a national language, according to the conditions specified in the Gazette. Once selected in the application, the examination language cannot subsequently be changed.
๐ Key Dates & Facts at a Glance
| ๐ Item | Details |
|---|---|
| ๐๏ธ Department | Sri Lanka Railway Department |
| ๐ก๏ธ Service | Railway Security Service |
| ๐ฎ Position | Railway Security Officer โ Grade III |
| ๐จ Male Vacancies | 239 |
| ๐ฉ Female Vacancies | 17 |
| ๐ฏ Total Vacancies | 256 |
| ๐ Age | 18โ28 years |
| ๐ Education | G.C.E. O/L requirements |
| ๐ฐ Starting Salary | Rs. 49,550 |
| ๐ณ Examination Fee | Rs. 1,200 |
| ๐ Written Exam | Intelligence Test + Language Proficiency |
| ๐ Exam Medium | Sinhala / Tamil / English |
| ๐ Application Closing Date | 28 September 2026 |
| ๐ Examination Location | Colombo |
The preliminary assessment and written examination are scheduled to be held in Colombo, according to the Gazette notice. The Commissioner/General Manager of Railways has authority to postpone or cancel the examination.
โ ๏ธ Important Instructions for Applicants
Before sending your application:
โ Check that you meet all eligibility requirements.
โ Use the correct specimen application format.
โ Complete every required section of the application.
โ Pay the Rs. 1,200 examination fee on time.
โ Attach the original payment receipt as required.
โ Keep copies of your completed application and payment receipt.
โ Ensure your signature is properly certified.
โ Send the application by registered post before the deadline.
โ Write the correct examination title on the envelope.
๐ Applications received after 28 September 2026 will not be accepted. The authorities also state that complaints regarding applications lost or delayed in the post will not be considered.
๐๏ธ Permanent Appointment & Probation
The position is a permanent appointment, subject to the government’s future policy regarding the pension scheme.
The appointment is subject to a three-year probation period. A person recruited to the Railway Security Officer position must pass the first efficiency-bar examination within three years of recruitment according to the recruitment procedure.
๐ Final Reminder
If you are interested in joining the Sri Lanka Railway Department Railway Security Service, carefully check the official Gazette notification and specimen application before applying.
With 256 vacancies, a starting salary of Rs. 49,550, and opportunities for both male and female applicants, this is an important government recruitment opportunity for eligible Sri Lankan citizens.
๐ Application Deadline: 28 September 2026
๐ฐ Examination Fee: Rs. 1,200
๐ฎ Vacancies: 256
๐ Position: Railway Security Officer โ Grade III
๐ Always verify the complete Gazette notification and application requirements before submitting your application.
๐ Source
Sri Lanka Railway Department โ Gazette notification dated 28 August 2026.
This article summarizes the information contained in the provided Gazette PDF. The original Gazette notification should be treated as the authoritative source for application requirements and conditions.
๐ข Gazette Advertisement โ Sinhala Preview
Source โ Gazette (2026.08.31)
