Catholic Dharmacharya Certificate Examination Application 2026
Catholic Dharmacharya Certificate Examination 2026 – Application & Full Details
Applications, Qualifications, Examination Fees, Subjects, Syllabus & Closing Date
Catholic Dharmacharya Certificate Examination 2026
The Department of Examinations, Sri Lanka has officially announced the Catholic Dharmacharya Certificate Examination for 2026. Eligible candidates can submit their applications through registered Catechism Schools according to the instructions issued by the Department.
| Examination | Catholic Dharmacharya Certificate Examination – 2026 |
| Conducted By | Department of Examinations, Sri Lanka |
| Relevant Years | 2024 & 2025 |
| Examination Month | November 2026 |
| Medium | Sinhala / Tamil / English |
| Closing Date | 14 September 2026 |
Language Medium
The examination will be conducted in Sinhala, Tamil and English. A candidate is permitted to sit the examination in one language medium only.
Qualifications
Applicants must have obtained at least one of the following qualifications:
- Passed the Catholic Daham Pasal Final Certificate Examination conducted by the Department of Examinations, Sri Lanka.
- Passed the Dharmacharya Examination, Dharmacharya Special Examination or Honours in Dharmacharya Examination conducted by the National Catechetic Center.
- Passed three subjects at the G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination, including either Christianity or Christian Civilization.
- Passed six subjects at the G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination, including a Credit Pass in Catholicism within not more than two sittings, or satisfies the other qualifications stated in the official notice.
Note: Applications must be certified by the Head Teacher of an approved Catechism School or the relevant Parish Priest confirming that the applicant has the required qualification.
How to Apply
Applications should be submitted through the Head of a registered Catechism School. Application forms and instructions are included in the official documents available below.
Applicants who are not applying through their own registered school should contact the Catechism School nearest to their residence. Eligible external applicants are not permitted to submit applications directly as private candidates; they must apply through a Catechism School.
Commissioner General of Examinations,
Institutional Examinations Organization Branch,
Department of Examinations, Sri Lanka,
Pelawatta, Battaramulla.
Completed applications must reach the Department of Examinations on or before 14 September 2026. Applications should be sent by registered post.
Examination Fees
| Candidate Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| First attempt – eligible registered candidates | Free |
| Second or subsequent attempt | Rs. 200/- |
| External / applicant not registered in institution's register | Rs. 200/- |
| Referred / under-passed subject | Rs. 50/- |
Examination fees should be paid through a Post Office to the Department of Examinations revenue head 20-03-02-13. The relevant payment receipt must be attached to the application.
Examination Subjects
The examination consists of five papers, and the allotted time for each paper is three hours.
Question Paper Structure
| Part | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Part I | 10 short-answer questions – answer all | 4 × 10 = 40 |
| Part II | 5 structured questions – answer 4 | 12 × 4 = 48 |
| Part III | 2 essay questions – answer 1 | 12 × 1 = 12 |
Pass Marks & Grades
| Marks | Grade | Symbol |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 34 | Failure | F |
| 35 – 54 | Pass | S |
| 55 – 69 | Credit Pass | C |
| 70 – 100 | Distinction Pass | D |
Candidates are required to pass all five subjects. A candidate who fails only one subject is treated as an under-pass candidate and must pass that subject within the next three consecutive examinations.
Identity Documents
Candidates may use one of the following valid documents to prove their identity:
- National Identity Card (NIC)
- Valid Passport
- Valid Sri Lankan Driving Licence
Syllabus & Model Question Papers
Queries regarding the syllabus and prototype/model question papers may be directed to:
National Catechetic Center
Balcombe Place, Kotta Road
Colombo 08
Telephone: 011 268 5459
Download Full Details & Application
Download the official notice, instructions and application form in your preferred language below.
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Follow WhatsApp ChannelFrequently Asked Questions
The application closing date is 14 September 2026.
The examination is scheduled to be held in November 2026.
Sinhala, Tamil and English. A candidate may sit in only one medium.
Eligible candidates appearing for the first time are generally exempt from the examination fee. Other candidates may be required to pay Rs. 200, while a referred subject carries a fee of Rs. 50.
They cannot submit a private application directly. Eligible applicants should apply through the registered Catechism School nearest to their residence.
Direct link to official source