The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna
Tabled in response to Question No. 8, the answer stated that seven services fall under the Combined Services and provided vacancy figures as at 1 March 2026, including major vacancies in the Management Service Officers Service, Office Employees Service, Combined Drivers Service, ICT Service, Translators Service, and Librarians Service. It outlined Cabinet approvals, gazette notices, examinations, interviews, and appointments already completed or scheduled to fill vacancies in several services, including translators, librarians, ICT officers, MSOs, and drivers. The answer noted that recruitment restrictions during 2020–2024 had created backlogs, and that ongoing recruitment would proceed through due process, cadre reviews, and institutional requirements.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, the answer to Question No. 8 (1992/2026), asked on behalf of Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala, is tabled.
¶ 02 (a) (i) Seven services fall under Combined Services.
¶ 03 (ii) 1. Sri Lanka Information and Communication Technology Service 2. Government Translators Service 3. Sri Lanka Government Librarians Service 4. Development Officers Service 5. Sri Lanka Administrative Service (Management Service Officers Service referenced separately below) 6. Combined Drivers Service 7. Office Employees Service
¶ 04 (iii) Vacancies as at 01.03.2026 (subject to cadre reviews; precise numbers require institutional data via the Department of Management Services): - ICT Service: 996 - Government Translators: 117 - Government Librarians: [Grade I] 100 (filling approved) - Development Officers: No vacancies - Management Service Officers (MSO): 4,250 (includes 1,615 approved to be filled by Cabinet decision dated 10.03.2025) - Combined Drivers: 1,706 - Office Employees: 2,607
¶ 05 (iv) Yes.
¶ 06 (v) Actions taken/planned: - Government Translators, Grade I: Cabinet approval (15.09.2025) to fill 238; Gazette 07.11.2025; exam pending service minute revision. - Government Librarians, Class III: Cabinet approval (11.08.2025) to fill 100; Gazette 07.11.2025; exam after service minute revision. - ICT Service: Cabinet approval (11.08.2025) to fill 48 (Class I Grade III), 189 (Class II Grade II), 555 (Class III Grade III); exams conducted on 22.03.2026/18.04.2026 and 28–29.03.2026; Class III Grade III exam scheduled 17.05.2026. - MSO Service: Cabinet approval (09.02.2025) to recruit 2,223 (open) — exam 18.05.2025; 1,908 appointed effective 01.10.2025; second batch 345 appointed effective 02.02.2026. Further 1,615 (open) approved (10.03.2025); exam 05.10.2025; interviews scheduled 22–24.05.2026; limited competitive held 18.08.2024; 669 appointed on 03.03.2025. - Combined Drivers: Cabinet approval (07.07.2025) to fill 1,000; exam scheduled 17.05.2026.
¶ 07 Recruitment was restricted or halted 2020–2024, causing large backlogs. We have commenced systematic filling while ensuring due process and aligning with service needs. Cadre reviews are ongoing and future recruitments will be aligned to institutional requirements.
¶ 08 (b) Not applicable.
Provenance
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- Hansard, Tuesday, 9 June 2026 ·No. 23706 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 9 June 2026. No. 23706. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/2781