Jan 23, Colombo: It has been decided to give extra 10 minutes in addition to the scheduled time to the students sitting for the GCE Advanced level examination which is starting today (23).

Examination Commissioner General Amit Jayasundara said that the additional 10 minutes will be given to the students after the one-hour period for the essay paper is over. He said this yesterday (22) while participating in the press conference held at the Government Information Department.

He said that 331,709 applicants will sit for the A-level examination this year, and 2,200 examination centers are operational and 32 coordination centers are available.

The Director General of the National Transport Commission, Dr. Nilan Miranda, said the government has taken steps to deploy 1,617 Sisusariya buses across the island and 16 trains to provide the necessary public transportation facilities to the students sitting for the GCE A/L examination.

He also said that this transport plan will be implemented from today. He said that 1,613 buses have been deployed for the students and that this public transport service will be in operation throughout the 22 days of the A Level examination.

The Director General said earlier a subsidy of Rs. 88 per kilometer was paid and this time the subsidy has been increased to Rs. 105 per kilometer.

He added that in addition to the students, the teachers and the staff working at the examination centers can use this transport service.