Sri Lanka Agricultural Service Grade III Limited Exam 2026 – 125 Vacancies
Online applications are invited for the Limited Competitive Examination for Recruitment to Grade III of the Sri Lanka Agricultural Service – 2024 (2026).
Closing Date: 16 October 2026 – 9.00 PM
Examination: January 2027
Exam Centre: Colombo only
Sri Lanka Agricultural Service Exam 2026 – Full Details
The Public Service Commission, through the Ministry responsible for Agriculture, has called applications from eligible public officers for the Limited Competitive Examination for Recruitment to Grade III of the Sri Lanka Agricultural Service – 2024 (2026).
A total of 125 vacancies are available under three streams for the post of Assistant Director of Agriculture. Applicants should carefully check the relevant qualifications in the official Gazette before submitting an application.
| Stream | Post | Vacancies | Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Development | Assistant Director of Agriculture (Agricultural Development) | 75 | 1 |
| Agricultural Research | Assistant Director of Agriculture (Agricultural Research) | 44 | 2 |
| Agricultural Economics | Assistant Director of Agriculture (Agricultural Economics) | 06 | 3 |
| Total Vacancies | 125 | — | |
Quick Overview
Service: Sri Lanka Agricultural Service
Grade: Grade III
Recruitment Method: Limited Competitive Examination
Total Vacancies: 125
Application Method: Online
Exam Fee: Rs. 1,200
Exam Month: January 2027
Exam Location: Colombo
Salary Scale
Salary Code: SL-01-2025
Rs. 82,150 – 2,400 × 10 – 2,940 × 8 – 3,900 × 17 – Rs. 195,970
Recruitment will be made to Grade III of the Sri Lanka Agricultural Service. The appointment is permanent and pensionable subject to the applicable public service rules and pension provisions.
Who Can Apply?
1. Agricultural Development Stream
Applicants should satisfy one of the relevant qualification routes specified in the official Gazette. These include eligible officers such as:
- Agricultural Instructors in the applicable Sri Lanka or Provincial Technical Service categories.
- Eligible officers with the required period of active and satisfactory service.
- Relevant officers holding a recognized four-year degree in Agriculture together with the required service experience.
- Eligible Horticultural Assistants with the prescribed service period.
- Agricultural Instructors or Horticultural Assistants possessing relevant Agriculture/Science degree qualifications and required service.
2. Agricultural Research Stream
Eligible categories include, subject to the complete Gazette conditions:
- Research Assistants.
- Soil Surveyors.
- Land Valuation/Assessment Officers.
- Qualified officers possessing recognized Agriculture degrees.
- Eligible officers possessing relevant four-year Science special degrees such as Botany, Chemistry or Zoology, together with the prescribed service experience.
3. Agricultural Economics Stream
Eligibility routes include, subject to the full Gazette conditions:
- Assistant Economists with the prescribed active and satisfactory service.
- Eligible officers possessing a recognized four-year Agriculture degree and the required service experience in relevant duties.
Examination Structure
| Paper | Duration | Marks | Pass Mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Test | 1 Hour 15 Minutes | 100 | 40% |
| Subject-Related Knowledge | 2 Hours | 100 | 40% |
Candidates must obtain at least 40% in each paper to qualify for the next stage of the recruitment process.
Intelligence Test Syllabus
The Intelligence Test is designed to assess abilities including:
- Language ability
- Mathematical ability
- Logical reasoning
- Analytical ability
The paper may contain multiple-choice questions and short questions. The examination duration is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Subject-Related Examination
The second paper evaluates knowledge and practical experience relevant to the stream selected by the applicant.
Agricultural Development topics include:
General Agriculture, Crop Production, Field Crops, Crop Management, Horticultural Crop Production, Fruit and Vegetable Production, Floriculture, Agricultural Extension and Training, Seed Technology and related agricultural subjects.
Agricultural Research topics include:
Agricultural Botany, Genetics and Plant Breeding, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Seed Technology, Tissue Culture, Agricultural Chemistry, Agronomy, Crop Science, Soil Science, Microbiology, Biometry and research-related subjects.
Agricultural Economics topics include:
Agricultural Production Economics, Farm Management, Agricultural Marketing, Land Economics and other related agricultural economics subjects specified in the Gazette.
Structured Interview and Selection
Candidates who obtain the required marks in the written examination may be called for a structured interview.
The interview will be used to verify the applicant's basic qualifications and to award marks for eligible seniority/service.
Up to a maximum of 30 marks may be awarded for qualifying active and satisfactory service in accordance with the Gazette provisions.
Examination Medium
The examination will be conducted in:
Applicants must answer all examination papers in the same selected language medium. The selected examination medium cannot later be changed.
Examination Fee
The examination fee is Rs. 1,200.
According to the Gazette, available payment methods include:
- Any bank credit card
- Debit card enabled for internet transactions
- Bank of Ceylon Online Banking
- BOC Flex App
- Payment through a Bank of Ceylon branch
How to Apply Online
Download Gazette – Sinhala, Tamil & English
Applicants are strongly advised to read the complete official Gazette before applying, especially the qualifications relevant to their selected stream.
Important Instructions for Applicants
- Applications are accepted online only.
- The online application must be completed in English.
- Check that you satisfy all qualifications before applying.
- An applicant may apply under only the eligible stream specified by the Gazette conditions.
- All required qualifications must be completed by the closing date.
- Incomplete or late applications may be rejected.
- Keep copies of the submitted application and payment confirmation.
- Applicants called for interview must be prepared to produce original certificates and relevant service documents.
Applicants should avoid waiting until the final day to submit the online application.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many vacancies are available?
There are 125 vacancies in total.
When does the online application open?
The online application opens on 21 September 2026 at 9.00 AM.
What is the closing date?
16 October 2026 at 9.00 PM.
What is the examination fee?
The examination fee is Rs. 1,200.
Where will the examination be held?
The examination is scheduled to be held in Colombo in January 2027.
Can anyone apply?
No. This is a Limited Competitive Examination. Applicants must satisfy the public-service and qualification requirements stated in the Gazette.
Can I apply by post?
The examination application must be submitted online through the Department of Examinations application system.
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Join WhatsApp ChannelDisclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes. Applicants should read the official Gazette notification and instructions before submitting an application. Where there is any difference between summaries and the official notice, the official Gazette should be followed.
