Holding GCE (A.L) examination in North East is in doubt

[TamilNet, Sunday, 07 May 2006, 13:48 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Department of Examinations raised doubts about conducting the GCE Advanced Level Examination in the North East, especially in Liberation Tigers held areas, Education offiicals said. The examination is scheduled to commence island wide in the second week of May. Normality in the North East has been disrupted due to continued violence and killing of Tamil civilians and attacks on security forces in the North East.

Examination authorities are in a dilemma to take a final decision in holding the GCE A/L examination in the North East as they have to ensure transporting and distributing questions papers to centers without disruption, and also to ensure security to examination staff and students, education sources said.

Parents and students have requested the education authorities to create a violent- free atmosphere for the students can have access to examination halls without fear and intimidation, sources said.

However examination department officials said that every step is being taken to hold the examination in the North East as scheduled.

Meanwhile, in Trincomalee and its suburbs and in the Liberation Tigers held Muttur east schools have not been re-opened for its second term since April 25 since the bomb blast and followed up violence and arson in the Trincomalee town on April 12. Displaced Tamil families are occupying several schools in the suburbs of Trincomalee town as they fear to return to their houses.

Since April 12 normalcy has not returned in Trincomalee town and its suburbs.