SLA procedures affect Jaffna students sitting exams

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 August 2007, 04:14 GMT]
While the Sri Lanka Military command in Jaffna peninsula announced Wednesday that the G.C.E. O/L Examination are being conducted without any hindrances and with the full cooperation of the armed forces, the educational society blamed the Sri Lankan armed forces and allied paramilitaries for obstructing the smooth progress of the national level examination and adversely affecting the performance of the students in sitting the exam, civil sources in Jaffna said.

Students sitting the exam have to wait between 30 minutes to an hour at roadsides when a military convey passes, as the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) restricts the movements of the people whenever a military convey uses a road.

Many students miss their lunch and are compelled to sit the exam without eating to avoid being held up outside the shool, officials said.

Students from Vadamaradchy and Thenmaradchy are particularly affected, according to education officials.