🔴 OFFICIAL CIRCULAR RELEASED · Ministry of Education · Circular 25/2026
📋 COLOMBO · Signed by Secretary Nayaka Kaluwewa
Grade One Admission 2027
Strict New Guidelines Issued
Ministry of Education, Higher Education & Vocational Training · All Government & Provincial Council Schools
📅 Apply by 30 July 2026
🏫 Circular No. 25/2026
✏️ Admission Year: 2027
⚠️ Supersedes Circular 25/2025
25/2026
Official Circular Number
30 Jul
Application Deadline 2026
20 Dec
Final List Published 2026
🌐 Quick Summary
🇱🇰 සිංහල
පාසල්වල පළමු ශ්රේණියට ළමුන් ඇතුළත් කිරීම – 2027අධ්යාපන, උසස් අධ්යාපන සහ වෘත්තීය පුහුණු අමාත්යාංශය විසින් 25/2026 චක්රලේඛය නිකුත් කර ඇත. 2027 ජනවාරි 31 ට හෝ ඊට පෙර අවුරුදු 5 සම්පූර්ණ කළ ළදරුවන් ඇතුළත් කිරීමට සුදුසුකම් ඇත. අවම වශයෙන් පාසල් 6 ක් සඳහා ලියාපදිංචි තැපෑලෙන් අයදුම් කළ යුතු අතර 2026 ජූලි 30 අවසාන දිනය වේ.
🇱🇰 தமிழ்
பாடசாலைகளின் தரம் ஒன்றிற்கு பிள்ளைகளை அனுமதித்தல் – 2027கல்வி, உயர் கல்வி மற்றும் தொழிற் பயிற்சி அமைச்சினால் சுற்றறிக்கை 25/2026 வெளியிடப்பட்டுள்ளது. 2027 ஜனவரி 31 அல்லது அதற்கு முன்னர் ஐந்து வயது பூர்த்தியடைந்த குழந்தைகள் தகுதியுடையவர்கள். குறைந்தது 6 பாடசாலைகளுக்கு பதிவுத் தபாலில் விண்ணப்பிக்க வேண்டும். இறுதி தேதி: 30 ஜூலை 2026.
👶 Core Eligibility & Age Requirements
Age Cut-off: The child must complete 5 years of age by January 31 of the year of admission (2027).
Strict Enforcement: School principals are strictly instructed to ensure no child under the age of 5 is admitted under any circumstance.
Mandatory Documentation: A valid birth certificate is required. If unavailable, a temporary age certificate issued by the Registrar General or an authorised district/additional district registrar is mandatory.
Children aged 6 or above will only be accommodated after all qualified children under 6 are placed, subject to vacancy availability.
🏫 Class Sizes & Defence Quotas
35
Standard seats per parallel class via normal interview process
+5
Additional seats for children of Tri-Forces & Police (special welfare)
40
Maximum total strength per parallel class
ℹ️ Note on Medium of Instruction: Admissions at entry stage are strictly limited to Sinhala and Tamil mediums only. No direct admissions are permitted for the English medium.
📊 Seat Allocation by Category
Category I
50%
🏘️ Close Proximity Residents
Children whose parents or legal guardians reside within the recognised proximity area of the school.
Category II
25%
🎓 Children of Past Pupils (Alumni)
Children whose mother, father or legal guardian is a former student of the relevant school.
Category III
14%
👨👩👧 Brothers & Sisters
Children who already have a brother or sister currently studying at the relevant school.
Category IV
6%
👩🏫 Education-Sector Staff
Children of staff in institutions directly related to school education and academic staff of state universities.
Category V
4%
🔁 Transferred Public Officers
Children of public/corporate sector officers transferred due to state exigencies or annual transfers.
Category VI
1%
✈️ Returning from Overseas
Children of persons returning from overseas after living abroad with the child.
📋 Application Guidelines for Parents
1
Parents are legally required to apply to at least six schools, which must include a minimum of three Provincial Council schools near their residence. Schools must be listed in clear order of preference.
2
Prepared applications matching the specimen form must be sent exclusively via Registered Post on or before the closing date. Hand deliveries are permitted only if a school receives fewer total applications than its vacant capacity.
3
For schools operating bi-medium curricula (Sinhala and Tamil), parents can only apply under one medium. Once selected, changing the medium of instruction is legally prohibited.
4
Attach copies of supporting documents required to prove the selected admission category with each application.
5
Produce original documents when requested during the interview or verification process.
📅 Compulsory Admission Timeline 2027
⚠️ The Ministry has warned that this schedule is legally binding and no extensions will be granted.
30 June 2026
📌 Cut-off date for calculating the validity period of residency and other qualification documents.
30 July 2026
📝 Final deadline for submitting applications to schools (via Registered Post).
Before 30 Sep 2026
🗣️ Execution and completion of the first round of interviews.
15 October 2026
📋 Mandatory publication of the Provisional Selection List & Waiting List on school noticeboards and websites.
31 October 2026
📨 Final date for parents to lodge formal Appeals or Objections.
16 Nov – 13 Dec 2026
🔍 Evaluation of appeals by an independent review board.
20 December 2026
🏁 Release of the Finalized Selection List.
Day 1 · Term 1 · 2027
🎒 Commencement of Grade One classes on the first day of the first school term.
🚨 Strict Anti-Corruption Measures
🔴 Zero-Tolerance Policy: Charging, soliciting or accepting any form of donation, financial bribe, or material goods in exchange for a student’s admission is strictly prohibited. This rule applies equally to school principals, Old Pupils’ Associations (OPA), and School Development Societies (SDS). Legal action will be pursued against any party exercising pressure on parents.
✅ Parents are only required to pay: Regular government-approved facility fees, service fees, and basic SDS membership fees. Nothing more.
❓ What If Your Child Doesn’t Get Selected?
📢 If a child fails to secure admission to any of the applied schools, parents must appeal directly to their respective Zonal Education Director within one month. The Zonal Director is legally mandated to systematically provide an alternative school with vacant seats within the area.
📌 Official Source
Ministry of Education, Higher Education & Vocational Training, Sri Lanka
Circular No. 25/2026 · Signed by Secretary Nayaka Kaluwewa · Supersedes Circular No. 25/2025
Applies to: All Government and Provincial Council Schools · Academic Year 2027 and beyond
Circular No. 25/2026 · Signed by Secretary Nayaka Kaluwewa · Supersedes Circular No. 25/2025
Applies to: All Government and Provincial Council Schools · Academic Year 2027 and beyond
