President recognises highest achievers at this year’s GCE A/L examination

Wednesday, 25 December 2013 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Mahinda Rajapaksa Monday recognized the students, who scored highest marks at this year’s GCE Advanced Level Examination, at the Temple Trees.

Addressing the event, the President said the children in the north, who were given cyanide capsules at one time, are now given the opportunity to further their education with the restoration of peace. Many students in the north have been able to record numerous victories in the field of education and most of the students who sat for the GCE A/L this year have qualified for the university entrance for the first time in the history, the President said. Speaking at the occasion Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said the measures taken by the Government to provide same facilities for the schools in north as in the south was a major factor behind this victory.

The first in the biological sciences stream Thathsarani Amaya from Eheliyagoda Central School, first in the physical sciences stream Aditha Weerasiri Dias of Richmond College in Galle, first in commerce stream Erandi Kanchana of Ratnawalee Girls School in Gampaha, first in arts stream Methsarani Lokuge of Devi Balika School in Colombo and first in the IT stream Duneesha Tharangi Fernando of Musaeus College in Colombo were recognised at the event. Congratulating the students the President also handed out cheques worth Rs. 100,000 under the sponsorship of the Peoples Bank, a dictionary and a laptop to each student. Deputy Minister of Education Mohan Lal Grero, Chairman of People’s Bank and President’s Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath and Secretary to the Education Ministry Anura Dissanayake were also present at the occasion. Pix by Sudath Silva