Catholic priest lashes out at govt over GCE (A/L) exam results mess-up

January 1, 2012, 6:41 pm , The Island.

by Shamindra Ferdinando

Rev. Father Camillus Perera yesterday launched a scathing attack on those responsible for the recent mess-up in the GCE (A/L) examination results.

Delivering his Sunday sermon to coincide with the Jan. 1 mass at newly built church at Walanagoda, Katunayake, the priest alleged that those holding education portfolios and the Examination Department should be ashamed of the failure on their part to meet the aspirations of the student community.

Examination Chief Anura Edirisinghe retired on Saturday amidst accusations he caused chaos by acting hastily, following presidential intervention to release the results.

The government should be held responsible for this mess, he said, accusing the Catholic clergy of turning a blind eye to what was going on in the country, he said.

Rev. Perera said that many students had suffered due to the latest failure. The outspoken priest said that the clergy, too, should take the blame for the pathetic situation in the country. Both the education and health services had been rapidly deteriorating due to negligence, though those in power talked as if there weren’t any contentious issues.The priest challenged the media to take up issues affecting those struggling to make ends meet, citing several examples of students at the mercy of a fraudulent system.

Commenting on the appointment of a presidential commission to inquire into the mess-up, the priest said that those directed to carry out the inquiry could cause further chaos. He said that such inquiries couldn’t be taken seriously.

The Catholics should try to make a difference by distancing themselves from state-managed shows to deceive people. Referring to a particular incident at such a show recently, Rev. Perera urged the congregation to reject both Santa Clause and Christmas trees as they meant absolutely nothing to the Catholics.