The Ministry of Education has officially announced a comprehensive amendment to the circular governing the Sinhala Language and Literature Competition. Circular Number 40/2025, issued by Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewe, is set to take effect from January 1, 2026, and will remain active for the next five years.
The initiative aims to create “proud citizens who contribute to national development” by enhancing their language and communication skills. The competition structure is designed to nurture the four core language skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—while fostering an appreciation for classical Sinhala literature and national identity.
Competition Structure and Scale
The revamped program consists of 62 different competitions spanning grades 6 through 13. These are categorized into:
- Written Competitions: Prose and practical writing, poetry composition, language usage, literature knowledge, story and short story creation, songwriting, and short play scripts.
- Oral Competitions: Oratory, announcing, reading, and poetry chanting.
To ensure fair play, schools are categorized into three groups based on student population (under 200, 201–500, and over 500 students).
Roadmap to National Excellence
The competition progresses through five distinct levels, each with specific deadlines:
- School Level: Must be completed by February 28/29.
- Zonal Level: To be held before May 30.
- Provincial Level: Scheduled before September 15.
- All-Island and National Levels: Conducted before October 30.
| Circular | Download |
| Website | Click Here |
