News

A/L postponement inevitable but no official statement so far

Published

4 years ago

2021/10/13

Sahan Weerasooriya

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.

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Latest News

Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts

Published

12 hours ago

2025/04/27

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 26 April 2025, valid for 27 April 2025.

The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED

Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

Latest News

Minister of Foreign Affairs pays his last respects to Pope Francis

Published

12 hours ago

2025/04/27

Priyan

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath represented Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday [26]

News

RW to visit CIABOC on Monday

Published

14 hours ago

2025/04/27

Thilina Walpola

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) tomorrow (28) over the statement he had made on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, his lawyers have informed the Commission.

Accordingly, the former President will appear before the commission at 9.30am on Monday.

Wickremesinghe was initially summoned by the Commission to CIABOC on April 17 in relation to a statement he had made about the corruption case filed against NDF (gas cylinder) MP Dassanayake.

In response to the previous summons, Wickremesinghe had indicated that he is prepared to appear before the commission but requested a different date citing that his lawyers will not be available in Colombo during the New Year holiday period.

Accordingly, a new was provided and Wickremesinghe requested to appear before the commission at 09.30 a.m. on Thursday (April 25).On April 7, Wickremesinghe had said that MP Dassanayake withdrew the fixed deposits belonging to the Uva Provincial Council, over which he is now facing corruption charges, in accordance with a circular issued during Wickremesingher’s tenure as Prime Minister.

The former President questioned whether the MP’s arrest over the matter was in response to Dassanayake’s vocal criticism of the government in parliament.

The sitting MP is currently in remand custody for allegedly misappropriating a sum of Rs. 1 million of the Uva Provincial Council in 2016.

He was taken into custody on March 27, over three separate corruption-related cases.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court previously granted bail in the cases filed against him but he remains in remand custody due to an order issued by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court.

According to the CIABOC, Dassanayake had solicited funds from three state banks, claiming they were intended to provide bags for preschool children in the province.

Two banks complied, granting him Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million, which were later transferred to his foundation account.

However, when a third bank refused to provide funds, Dassanayake reportedly retaliated by withdrawing the Uva Provincial Council’s fixed deposits from that institution.The CIABOC filed a case against the MP, citing the government incurred a financial loss of Rs. 17.3 million due to his actions.