Applications for the 11th phase of Sri Lanka’s Interest-Free Student Loan Scheme opened on August 17 and will close on September 27, 2026, Daily Mirror and Ada Derana reported.
The scheme is run by the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education and is intended for students seeking to enter higher education.
To be eligible, applicants must have sat the G.C.E. Advanced Level examination in 2023, 2024 or 2025 and obtained at least three ordinary passes (S) across all three subjects, provided they also meet the scheme’s other conditions.
Applicants must additionally hold at least an ordinary pass in English and have scored a minimum of 30 marks in an aptitude test. They must be aged 25 or under as of September 27, the closing date.
The two newsrooms differ on three details
Daily Mirror and Ada Derana give slightly different versions of the criteria, and applicants should confirm the requirements with the ministry rather than rely on either summary.
Daily Mirror reported that the English pass must be at the G.C.E. Ordinary Level. Ada Derana reported that an ‘S’ pass in English at either the Advanced Level or the Ordinary Level qualifies — a broader condition. Daily Mirror named the 30-mark paper the “General Information Test”; Ada Derana called it the “General Common Test”. The two also differ on one subject stream, given as “Humanities and Arts” by Daily Mirror and “Humanities and Social Sciences” by Ada Derana.
Both agree on the closing date, the age limit, the A-Level years, the three ‘S’ passes and the 30-mark threshold.
Under this phase, successful applicants can pursue more than 129 degree programmes offered by 16 degree-awarding institutions, spanning Engineering Technology, Information Technology, Science and Commerce.
The ministry has listed the scheme website at www.mohe.gov.lk and an email address, [email protected], for applications and queries. Inquiries can also be made on 070 355 5970, or via WhatsApp on 070 355 5979.
Context
The scheme covers the interest on loans taken by students admitted to approved degree programmes at non-state higher education institutes, with the government meeting the interest cost. It was introduced to widen access to degree places for students who qualify at A-Level but do not secure one of the limited state university admissions.
