Education Ministry announces 2027 school term calendar

The Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education has issued Circular No. 31/2026, outlining the school term calendar, public holidays and schedules for major examinations for 2027.

According to the circular, government and government-approved private schools, as well as Pirivenas, are scheduled to operate for 197 days in 2027, taking into consideration public holidays and examination schedules.

For Sinhala and Tamil schools, the first term will be held from Monday, January 4, 2027, to Friday, April 9, 2027.

The second term will run from Monday, April 26, 2027, to Friday, July 30, 2027.

The third term will be held from Monday, August 30, 2027, to Friday, December 3, 2027.

For Muslim schools, the first and second terms will be conducted in several phases.

The G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination is scheduled to be held in August, while the G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination is scheduled for December 2027.

If any school day needs to be cancelled due to exceptional circumstances, compensatory classes must be conducted in lieu of the missed school day.