News

AL exams to start tomorrow

Published

1 year ago

January 22, 2023

editor

GCE (Advanced Level) examination – 2022 which will be held from tomorrow, (23) to February 17, 2023.

More than 8,000 police officers are to be deployed for the security of examination centers and coordination centers established throughout the island.

Nearly 18,000 school teachers and school heads and Directors of the Education Ministry will be deployed from tomorrow for examination duties.

Candidates are warned that indecent behaviour would result in the Examinations Chief cancelling their candidature during the period of the examination..

Commissioner General of Examinations, Amith Jayasundara told the media that some candidates are getting ready for liquor parties on the final day of the examination and if these take place, their candidature is liable to be cancelled after conducting inquiries against them for violating examination rules.

About 300 incidents of malpractices and frauds take place annually and 800 investigators of the Examinations Department will be deployed to conduct sudden visits to the examination centres to see whether the examination is being held in keeping with the instructions of the Department.

About 2,200 examination centres will be set up countrywide to conduct the examination. Principals have been told to apprise candidates on the examination rules.

source – Sunday Observer

News

Prof. Nalin de Silva no more

Published

18 mins ago

May 2, 2024

editor

Philosopher, intellectual and academician Professor Nalin de Silva has passed away at the age of 79. Prof. de Silva initially served as a professor in the Department of Mathematics and later as the Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Kelaniya.

He was also a former member of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

In addition to his academic pursuits, de Silva also worked as a former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Myanmar.

News

‘Company issuing visa at BIA not Indian or Indian based’

Published

5 hours ago

May 2, 2024

editor

The Indian High Commission in Colombo has issued a statement over reports of Indian companies taking over visa issuance at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake.

The statement notes “companies referred to in these reports are not India based or Indian and are headquartered elsewhere. Any reference to India in this context is unwarranted.”

News

Chaos at BIA raises questions (Video)

Published

7 hours ago

May 2, 2024

nipuni

Questions have been raised after chaos at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake last night (May 01) has sparked widespread outrage.

This is with regard to a controversial takeover of the on-arrival visa issuance process at BIA by an Indian company – VFS Global since yesterday evening.

It is learnt that the company has levied an extra $25 alongside the standard $75 fee.

Long lines of frustrated travellers were also seen at the airport for several hours, which is a stark difference to the procedure smoothly managed in a matter of mere minutes by the Immigration and Emigration Department in the past.

Footage of a Sri Lankan citizen expressing outrage over Indian nationals deciding visa matters for fellow Sri Lankans, has also been making rounds on social media.

Although 10 Sri Lankan and Indian officers had commenced work from 5.00pm yesterday, the lines remained well over 9.00pm. Amid tensions, higher officials of the BIA and security forces had also arrived at the premises.

At 11.30pm the company officials temporarily suspended issuing visas and left the BIA with the money collected, reports say.

Upon the directive of the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration – Harsha Ilukpitiya, Immigration officers have commenced their usual duties with no issues since then, enabling the previous process to continue smoothly.

Concerns have been raised over the lack of transparency in this arrangement.