Excellence in exams takes it to the villages

The Sinhala and Tamil New Year which dawns tomorrow could be said to have got off to a most propitious start with the country's secondary school student community registering very much improved performances in mathematics and the English language at the recently conducted G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination.

Thanks to the educational reforms launched under the guidance of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and ably administered by Education Ministry Secretary Dr. Tara de Mel, the country has received an educational boon it has been longing for and that too in a festive atmosphere in which the entirety of Sri Lanka rejoices.

Inasmuch as the outbound traffic at this time of the year symbolises a country at one with its traditions, the better performance at the G.C.E. Ordinary Level by our students augurs well for the future and epitomises a country on a forward march. Meanwhile, despite the dark pall cast by the recent tsunami, there was bustling scenes all over the city yesterday with milling crowds of shoppers doing their last minute buying while others waited in long queues for buses and trains to take them to their far flung home towns and villages in time for the Avurudhu.

There were traffic jams in the Pettah and Fort, the heart of the country's commercial capital with the heavy press of frenzied shoppers also adding to the general chaos placing an extra burden on the already overstretched city police force, tasked with exercising extra vigilance during the festive season.

According to most observers, the Sinhala and Tamil New Year has a special meaning for the people and a deep ethos which could transcend any calamity or disaster. They are however of the view that those fortunate enough to celebrate this New Year spare a thought to their brethren languishing in temporary shelters to whom this New Year couldn't have much appeal.

There are however measures taken by the Government and voluntary organisations to instill some cheer and happiness among the displaced tsunami victims to ensure they are not entirely left out of this year's Avurudhu festivities.

There was a significant drop however in the number of passengers travelling South for the New Year this time, probably due to the tsunami disaster, CTB Manager operations C. Alahakoon said.

According to him the largest number of buses were to Badulla, Kandy and Ampara. Sources said Transport Minister Felix Perera has taken all measures to give maximum convenience to passengers.

However service for all destinations have been bolstered anticipating a surge in demand over the holiday period. More buses and trains will be in operation to cater to the additional demand. Police are also planning for higher levels of private vehicular traffic.

Special police teams in mufti have also been deployed in a bid to round up perverts and undesirable who may attempt to thrive on the congested situation.

Over 600 additional CTB and private buses have been deployed so far for the convenience of passengers during the festive season, transport authorities said. Nearly 400 additional buses have been sent to different parts of the country from Colombo under the special private bus service launched for the New Year.

Meanwhile, railway authorities have also boosted services over the New Year period. Railways Manager Operations P. Chandratilleke told the Daily News that under the program, more long distance trains will be deployed to different parts of the country.

Accordingly, special trains are to be deployed to Kandy, Badulla, Hatton, Matara, Galle, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Anuradhapura, Batticaloa and Matale and back before and after the new year for the convenience of commuters.

"Special services from Colombo commenced on April 8 from the Fort and Maradana railway stations", he said. The Department has also taken steps to launch a special new year train service from the Katunayake Free Trade Zone to Galle today.