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.
It has been reported that two persons riding a motorcycle were killed in a shooting incident that took place around 11.45pm on Friday [21] night , in front of the southern entrance of the Devundara Sri Vishnu Devalaya, on Sinhasana Road.
The unidentified gunmen, who arrived in a van, opened fire using a T-56 assault rifle and 9 mm firearms before fleeing the scene. The police have recovered 39 T-56 bullet casings, two T-56 rounds of live ammunition, a T-56 magazine, three 9 mm bullet casings, and one 9mm live ammunition.
The van suspected to have been used by the shooters was found abandoned and set on fire on a side road about 800 meters from the crime scene.
The two deceased victims have been identified as Tikira Hennedige Yomesh Nadishan and Marakkala Manage Pasidu Tharuka, both residents of Sinhasana Road, Devinuwara.
Matale Dirstrict SJB MP Rohini Kumari Wijerathna yesterday tabled a list in Parliament naming 1,300 members, leaders, trade unionists, and activists of the UNP, who were allegedly assassinated by the JVP. The list was submitted during a parliamentary session as part of the government’s ongoing effort to document victims of political violence.
Along with the names of the victims, MP Wijerathna also introduced over 900 family members of the alleged victims, providing further context to the extent of the violence.
Speaking during the session, MP Wijerathna stated, “Child soldiers were recruited by the JVP even before the LTTE. ‘Kantale Bonikki,’ a 13-year-old child was used to murder a 70-year-old female UNP supporter.” She accused the JVP of using children to kill numerous UNP members during the JVP’s second insurgency.
The MP said that names not included in the current list would be submitted during the upcoming “Batalanda Debate” in April.
MP Wijerathna invited the public, via her Facebook page to submit further details on family members affected by political violence to ensure their inclusion in the extended record.
Deputy Labour Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe yesterday informed Parliament that a CID probe had been called into land deals involving former first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa in Gampaha.
Jayasinghe said a request has been made by the Acting IGP in that regard.
The Deputy Minister said the lands in the Imbulgoda and Makola had been purchased in 2012 and sold in 2023.
He told Parliament that a plot of land purchased in Ihala Imbulgoda in 2012 under the Mahinda Rajapaksa Spiritual Foundation for Rs. 500,000 has been sold for Rs. 10 million, adding that the owner of the land is one Shiranthi Wickramasinghe Rajapaksa of Carlton House, Tangalle.
Jayasinghe said that another plot of land in Makola that was purchased for Rs. 01 million has been sold for Rs. 12 million, of which the owner was Shiranthi Wickramasinghe Rajapaksa of Carlton House, Tangalle. Inquiries into the land deals have revealed that the deeds had been drawn up and signed at Temple Trees and had been transferred in 2023 to a person residing in Nugegoda.
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