Department of Agriculture (Open Exam) Job Vacancies 2026 – 329 Agriculture Instructor, Research Assistant & Soil Surveyor Posts

Applications are invited from suitably qualified Sri Lankan citizens for the Open Competitive Examination for Recruitment to Posts of Agriculture Instructor, Research Assistant and Soil Surveyor in Grade III of the Sri Lanka Technological Service – 2026 under the Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka.

Available Vacancies

A total of 329 vacancies have been announced under this recruitment examination.

Salary Scale

Successful candidates will also be subject to the efficiency bar examinations, language proficiency requirements and other conditions applicable to the Sri Lanka Technological Service.

Age Limit

Applicants must be not less than 18 years and not more than 35 years of age as at 04 September 2026.

Educational & Professional Qualifications

1. Agriculture Instructor – Grade III

Applicants should have passed the G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination in six subjects at one sitting, with credit passes in:

• Sinhala / Tamil / English Language
• Mathematics
• Science
• One other subject

Applicants are also required to possess the relevant professional qualification specified in the Gazette, including a two-year Agriculture Diploma awarded by an institution approved by the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC), or another accepted relevant technical qualification under the alternatives stated in the Gazette.

2. Research Assistant – Grade III

Applicants should have passed three subjects at one sitting at the G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination in the Science or Technology stream, excluding General English and the Common General Test.

The qualification should include at least two subjects from the following relevant subject areas:

• Agricultural Science
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Botany
• Physics
• Zoology
• Biosystems Technology
• Science for Technology

3. Soil Surveyor – Grade III

Candidates applying for the Soil Surveyor post should satisfy the educational and relevant technical/professional qualification requirements specified in the official Gazette for the Sri Lanka Technological Service.

For the professional qualification component, the Gazette provides relevant alternatives including an appropriate NVQ Level 6 qualification or a technical qualification accepted by the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission as equivalent to the specified qualification.

Other Eligibility Requirements

• Applicants must be citizens of Sri Lanka.
• Applicants should possess an excellent character.
• Applicants should be physically and mentally fit to serve in any part of Sri Lanka and perform the duties of the relevant post.
• All required qualifications must have been completed on or before the closing date of applications.
• A person who is ordained in a religious order is not eligible to apply under the conditions stated in the Gazette.

Application Opening & Closing Dates

Candidates are advised not to wait until the final day to submit applications, as problems caused by late submission will be the responsibility of the applicant.

How to Apply Online

Applications must be submitted online only through the Department of Examinations, Sri Lanka.

1. Visit the official Department of Examinations online application portal.
2. Select the relevant Agriculture Department recruitment examination.
3. Download and carefully read the official application instructions before completing the form.
4. Complete the online application in English.
5. Select the relevant post or posts.
6. If applying for more than one post, indicate the order of preference as required.
7. Pay the examination fee using an accepted payment method.
8. Check all information carefully before final submission.
9. Submit the application before 9.00 PM on 04 September 2026.
10. Keep a copy/printout of the submitted application and payment confirmation for future reference.

Examination Fee

The Gazette states that payment should be made through the payment methods provided in the online system.

• Any bank credit card
• Any bank debit card enabled for internet transactions
• Bank of Ceylon online banking / BOC Flex App
• Any Bank of Ceylon branch

Applicants should pay the full examination fee. Applications where an incorrect amount is paid may be rejected. Examination fees already paid are not refundable or transferable to another examination.

Examination Pattern

Intelligence Test

The Intelligence Test is a one-hour paper carrying 100 marks. It is intended to assess logical thinking, analytical ability and decision-making ability. The Gazette states that the paper consists of 50 multiple-choice and short-answer type questions, and candidates are required to answer all questions.

Subject Knowledge Test

The Subject Knowledge paper is a two-hour paper carrying 100 marks and consists of structured and multiple-choice questions related to the relevant field.

Agriculture Instructor & Research Assistant – Subject Syllabus

The Gazette includes subject areas such as:

• Contribution of agriculture to Sri Lanka's economic development
• Climatic zones of Sri Lanka
• Soil and plant nutrition
• Paddy production
• Other field crop production
• Vegetable production
• Fruit production
• Drainage and its importance
• Crop protection
• Soil conservation and soil conservation methods
• Irrigation and water management
• Farm mechanization
• Beekeeping
• Floriculture and landscaping
• Protected agriculture
• Animal husbandry
• Agricultural extension
• Tissue culture
• Plant quarantine
• Plant conservation
• Biotechnology
• Agricultural development

Soil Surveyor – Subject Syllabus

• Soil types of Sri Lanka and their distribution
• Factors affecting soil formation and identification of soil profiles
• Map reading
• Current land-use patterns in Sri Lanka
• Effects of deforestation and environmental issues
• Use of fertilizers
• Crop diversification
• Soil and water conservation methods

Examination Medium

The examination will be conducted in:

Candidates must answer all papers in the same language medium. The examination medium selected in the application cannot be changed later.

Examination Date & Centres

According to the Gazette, the examination is scheduled to be held in November 2026.

If there is an insufficient number of applicants for a particular arrangement, the examination may be conducted only in Colombo. Candidates cannot change the selected examination city later.

Minimum Marks & Selection Method

Candidates must obtain at least 40% marks in each examination paper to be considered for recruitment.

Candidates who obtain the required marks will be ranked according to their total marks. Eligible candidates will then be considered based on the merit order and the number of available vacancies.

A general interview will be conducted to verify candidates' qualifications. No marks are awarded for the interview. Candidates who do not possess the required qualifications by the closing date may be disqualified even if they have passed the written examination.

Admission Card

Admission cards will be issued online by the Commissioner General of Examinations to applicants whose applications and examination fee have been properly submitted.

The Department of Examinations may notify candidates through its website and/or SMS when admission cards are released.

Accepted Identity Documents at the Examination

Candidates should be able to prove their identity using one of the accepted documents mentioned in the Gazette:

• National Identity Card (NIC)
• Valid Passport
• Valid Sri Lankan Driving Licence

Government / Provincial Public Service Applicants

Applicants who are already serving in the Government or Provincial Public Service should submit a copy of the application to their Head of Institution for inclusion in the personal file. If called for interview, the required certified copy and confirmation from the Head of Institution should be produced as specified in the Gazette.

Official Gazette & Application Form

Applicants are strongly advised to read the complete official Gazette notice before submitting the online application.

Application Instructions

Important Dates

Frequently Asked Questions