The Secretary of Education Professor Kapila Perera said that all the arrangements have been made to conduct the examination minimizing the risk up to the utmost level considering completely the health protection of the children under the prevailing covid spreading situation. The secretary of education appreciated the cooperation extended to the ministry of education by all social groups including transport authorities, Sri Lanka Police and all health authorities.
These ideas were expressed at the special media briefing held today (09) at the ministry of education to explain the way of conducting the examination according to the health protection systems, the method of providing the transport facilities to the students and the way of functioning the exam centers for conducting the G.C.E. Advanced Level and grade five scholarship examinations.
A gathering of male and female officers including the specialist doctor of pandemic diseases unit of the ministry of health Deepa Gamage, The Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Transport Board Kinsley Ranawaka, Deputy General Manager of Railway A.B.G. Senevirathna, The Commissioner General of Examinations B. Sanath Pujitha, Senior Superintendent of Police Ruwan Gunasekara, Additional Secretary of the ministry of education (Education Quality Development) Hemantha Premathilaka, Additional Secretary (School Affairs) M.L.D. Dharmasena and the Media Secretary of the ministry of education Buddhika Wikramadara had joined in this occasion.
The Commissioner General of Examinations B. Sanath Pujitha stated at this meeting that this time the examination is scheduled to be held limiting the number of students to 160 in one exam center and the steps have been taken to set up special exam centers in Gampaha district where currently quarantine curfew is in force due to covid situation. Accordingly, the steps have been taken for the students scheduled to go out of Gampaha district and sit for the exam in other areas, to direct them to special exam centers set up in relevant police areas considering their health protection.
According to that, the relevant information about the exam centers established in this way for the Advanced Level and grade five scholarship examinations has been directed herewith.
Expressing the ideas about the special arrangements followed for transporting students, the Deputy General Manager of Railway Mr. A.B.G. Senevirathna said that to facilitate the students in quarantine curfew enforced areas to go to their respective exam centers two trains with special compartments which is reserved only for the students and their parents will be engaged to run between Colombo and Polgahawela. And also, the arrangements have been made to provide special bus services reserved only for students and their parents within the relevant police areas.
The sanitizing work within the examination centers has already been done and all the staff engaged in exam duties, the students and parents have also been sensitized to follow health protecting methods and to come to the examination centers wearing the face masks. The secretary of education further stated at this occasion that he requests from all people to act considering this as a social responsibility and provide maximum opportunities to the students for sitting the exam with a sound mental condition without putting the health protection of the students into danger in the face of current covid virus spreading situation in the country.
