News
A/L postponement inevitable but no official statement so far
Vaccination of students yet to begin
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Education Reforms, Open Universities and Distance Learning Promotion State Minister Susil Premjayanth recently told Parliament that the GCE Advanced Level Examination would be put off, but the Education Ministry has not yet made an official statement to that effect.
Lawmaker Premjayanth made the declaration in Parliament on 07 Oct. following consultations with Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.
Both ministries yesterday (12) said that an official announcement as regards the examination hadn’t been issued so far when The Island sought a clarification whether they could confirm the postponement of the examination scheduled to commence on Nov. 15.
Sources said that an official statement was likely once a section of the schools would be re-opened on 21 Oct.
Education Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena swapped their ministries on 16 Aug. Prof. Peiris on July 19 announced the AL examination would be held from Nov 15 to Dec 10.
Secretary to the Education Ministry Prof. Kapila Perera was not immediately available for comment.
Commissioner General of Examination Sanath Pujitha told The Island that as the majority of those scheduled to sit the examination hadn’t been able to finish their studies due to the pandemic and teachers’ strike it wouldn’t be fair to conduct the GCE AL as scheduled.
According to him, the postponement of the examination was inevitable and there is a need to work out a proper plan to ensure the students wouldn’t be deprived of an opportunity to prepare for the examination. Responding to another query, Pujitha asserted that they would have to take into consideration the continuing salary issue.
The Examination Department head noted that the issue hadn’t been resolved yet in spite of various interventions. Pujitha asserted that as much as 60 percent of the total number of those slated to sit the examination hadn’t been able to complete the required lessons. He asserted that fresh dates would have to be announced after consultations with all stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the inoculation of AL students with Pfizer hadn’t commenced yet though various government spokesmen assured completion of the vaccination ahead of the examination. Sources said that though the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) declared about a month ago that the vaccination of the student community should take place at government hospitals under the supervision of medical specialists, the government subsequently announced the vaccination would take place in schools.
The second dose of Pfizer recommended for the student community should be administered in four weeks. Sources pointed out that even if vaccination commenced at schools on 21 Oct., as planned the second jab couldn’t be administered until the third week of Nov.
Top GMOA spokesperson Dr. Nalinda Herath expressed serious concerns over the developments though the situation seemed to be improving. Dr. Herath said that vaccination of A/L candidates should have been done ahead of the scheduled date for the examination to begin. Regardless of various reports pertaining to the conduct of GCE A/L and GCE O/L, those in authority were yet to make the official position clear.
The High Court has convicted 14 of the 24 men accused of being directly involved in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people.
The three-judge bench read out its decision on Tuesday after a five-year trial and said sentencing would take place later, the AFP news agency reported.
The charges included murder and conspiracy to commit terrorism.
Nine others were acquitted, while another defendant was found guilty of only some of the charges, the court said.
[Aljazeera]
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The ruling NPP yesterday (21) dismissed claims of a widening rift, within the government, over the proposed 22nd Amendment. Asked whether the NPP was concerned over a section of the Opposition alleging Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and two dozen MPs taking a view contrary to that of the party in this regard, authoritative party sources said some persons were propagating speculation for their own interest.
Declaring that there was absolutely no issue regarding the controversial Amendment, sources emphasised once it was tabled in Parliament, it would be passed with 2/3 majority.
Sources dismissed claims that out of its 159-member parliamentary group a section of NPPers was opposed to the government move. According to an influential Opposition activist, there are 57 JVPers and 66 NPPers in the government group and the rest contested the last parliamentary polls, having aligned with the JVP.
Ministerial sources told The Island that the government was confident of going ahead with the 22nd Amendment and Judicature (Amendment) Bills. Sources said that the NPP was not bothered about the Opposition protests in and outside Parliament.
Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne is expected to disclose the confidential ruling that he received from the Supreme Court in respect of more than 65 petitions for and against the 22nd Amendment and Judicial Amendment Bills. The enactment of the 22nd Amendment would pave the way for extending the retirement age of Supreme Court judges, from 65 to 67 years, and Court of Appeal judges, from 63 to 65 years.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Court of Appeal Judge Mayadunna Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal.
The appointment has been made as President’s Counsel Nalin Rohantha Abeysuriya, who currently serves as President of the Court of Appeal, will be overseas until the 24th.
Accordingly Justice Mayadunna Corea was sworn in as Acting President of the Court of Appeal before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential secretariat last morning (21).
Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was also present at the occasion.
High Court convicts 14 over deadly Easter bombings
Mandhana, Shafali and Ghosh lead dominant India to Asian Games gold
Fatima Sana and Umm-e-Hani secure bronze for Pakistan in Asian Games
India bat first in Asian games womens cricket final
Showers about 100mm will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara Districts
Govt. confident of 2/3 majority despite NPP split speculation
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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