Government Jobs in Sri Lanka: How to Find and Apply for Gazette Vacancies

Government employment in Sri Lanka is still one of the most competitive paths for graduates — pension, security, and a clear progression structure. But the application process intimidates first-timers because the rules feel opaque. Here's the practical playbook.

How vacancies are advertised

All permanent and limited-contract public-sector vacancies in Sri Lanka must be gazetted in the Government Gazette (Sinhala: රජයේ ගැසට් පත්‍රය). The gazette is published every Friday by the Department of Government Printing, and it's where teaching, banking (state banks), provincial council, ministry, and statutory body vacancies are formally announced.

Three places you'll see them:

1. The Government Gazette PDF — published weekly on documents.gov.lk. The vacancy section is at the back.
2. The hiring institution's own website — many ministries and corporations republish their notices.
3. Aggregator sites — including this one. We pull gazette listings into the Government Jobs section so you don't have to scan the PDF every Friday.

The gazette PDF is authoritative. If anything in an aggregator listing contradicts the gazette, the gazette wins.

What each gazette notice contains

A standard vacancy notice has six sections, in this order:

1. Position and grade. Includes the salary code (e.g. SL-1, MN-2). The salary code maps to a fixed pay scale you can look up.
2. Number of vacancies. Sometimes split by district or by service.
3. Educational and other qualifications. Strict — read every word.
4. Method of recruitment. Open competitive exam, limited (internal), or merit-based.
5. Closing date. Always strict. Postmarked-by-date applications can be rejected.
6. Application instructions. This is where most candidates trip up.

The application — what most people get wrong

Use the prescribed format in the notice

Most gazette notices say something like "applications should be submitted in the format published below or in the gazette dated [date]". You must follow that format exactly. Improvising — even with cleaner formatting — is a common reason for rejection.

Hand-write or type, but be consistent

Some notices specify hand-written. If they don't, typed is acceptable. Pick one and apply it consistently to every section.

Use the right envelope and labelling

The top-left corner of the envelope must state the position you're applying for, exactly as gazetted. "Post: Development Officer (Open)" — not paraphrased. Get this wrong and your file may not reach the right pile.

Send by registered post

Unless the notice specifies online submission, send by registered post and keep the receipt. The receipt is your proof of timely submission.

Pay the application fee on time

Many gazetted positions require a non-refundable application fee — usually paid at the post office or via specific bank account numbers. Attach the original receipt; a photocopy is rejected.

Documents you'll typically be asked for

• Birth certificate (original and certified photocopy).
• National Identity Card.
• Educational certificates (O/L, A/L, degree).
• Professional certifications, if any.
• Recent photograph (size as specified).
• Police clearance / Grama Niladhari certificate, if requested.

Get these certified in advance by your Grama Niladhari and a Justice of the Peace. The week of the closing date is not when you want to be queueing for certifications.

The exam — what to expect

Most open competitive recruitment uses a written paper:

• General Knowledge & IQ (45–60 minutes).
• Subject paper specific to the role (e.g. accounting for state-bank trainee posts, education theory for teachers).
• English language paper for many graduate-level posts.

Past papers are circulated informally — ask alumni from your university or look for past-paper books at Sarasavi or Vijitha Yapa.

If you clear the written, expect a structured interview focused on your A/L and degree subjects, current affairs, and your motivation for joining the public service.

Common rejection reasons (avoid these)

1. Late submission. Even a day late = rejection. The closing date is a hard wall.
2. Missing fee receipt. Always attach the original.
3. Wrong format. Improvising the application layout.
4. Incomplete documents. Missing certified copies of any single qualification.
5. Age limit overshoot. Most posts have a maximum age (often 35–45). Read this carefully.

Where to track new vacancies

If you're seriously job-hunting in the public sector, set up two habits:

• Friday review of the gazette — the PDF is on documents.gov.lk. Scan the back section.
• A weekly digest from a job portal — we publish gazetted vacancies in Government Jobs and Walk-ins within hours of release.

Government hiring isn't fast, but it is fair when you follow the rules. The candidates who get through aren't smarter — they're more careful with the paperwork.