A group of students at the Colombo Maligakanda Maha Vidyalaya centre comparing answers after sitting for the first paper of the GCE(Advanced Level) examination which commenced yesterday. The exam is being held in 1,292 centres islandwide. A total of 179,473 candidates are sitting for this examination which will continue till August 26. (Pic by Jude Denzil Pathiraja)