A special discussion was held today (27) under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, with the participation of the State Minister of Education and Higher Education, Mr. Madhura Seneviratne, to review changes in the G.C.E. Advanced Level examination timetable due to the prevailing heavy rainfall and to consider the immediate measures to be taken. The Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Mr. Nalaka Kaluwewa, the Commissioner General of Examinations, Mrs. Indika Liyanage, officials of the Department of Examinations of Sri Lanka, as well as officials of the Ministry, also took part in this discussion.
The Minister stated that every effort must be made to ensure that candidates sitting for this year’s G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination are able to sit for their examinations without any difficulty. She further instructed that continuous supervision be carried out by liaising with education authorities at provincial and zonal levels, and that all relevant institutions—including the Disaster Management Centre, the Air Force, and the Department of Meteorology—be involved to ensure the process is properly organized.
Following the discussion, the Minister stated at a media briefing that the Ministry of Education, the Department of Examinations, and all relevant authorities will jointly provide all necessary facilities to ensure that students sitting the Advanced Level Examination can do so without hindrance. She further emphasized that the answer scripts of the students who have already completed their examinations are being kept safely and the evaluation process has already begun. She also urged the public not to entertain unnecessary fears.
At the media briefing, the Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Mr. Nalaka Kaluwewa, stated that all Muslim schools in the country will remain closed today and tomorrow (27–28). He added that the date for reopening schools for the remainder of the school term will be announced to the media later. He also noted that in light of the prevailing disaster situation, the authority to close universities and higher education institutions has been delegated to their respective Vice Chancellors. He requested the public to follow only the official announcements issued by the Ministry of Education and the Department of Examinations.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner General of Examinations stated that the revised dates for the subjects scheduled to be held on November 27, 28, and 29 will be announced in due course. She further said that if the weather conditions improve, the examination will proceed according to the original timetable on Monday (December 1). She also noted that the institutional examination scheduled for November 29 under the limited competitive stream for recruitment to Grade III of Class I of the Registrar General’s Service – 2025, conducted by the Institutional Examinations Branch of the Department of Examinations, as well as the First Efficiency Bar Examination for non-technical Grade III Sports Instructors of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education scheduled for November 30, have been postponed due to the adverse weather.
Media Unit.
