Parents of the affected students allege those from Colombo, Kandy, Kurunegala and Galle have been coming to Puttalam and Nuwara Eliya districts to sit for the exams for several years now.

Most of those who sit for the GCE A/L exam from difficult areas are from science and maths streams, says science teacher Noushan Perera.

Another teacher Gamini Wijetunga says students of difficult areas suffer as a result of this fraudulent act.

Several A/L students from Puttalam allege no inquiry has taken place into such instances.

Twenty one students are using the name of a leading school in Nattandiya, where the science stream is not available, to sit for the exam, they charge.

CTU secretary Joseph Stalin says strong action should be taken with regard to such incidents.

Exams chief W.M.N.J. Pushpakumara says an inquiry took place into the Nattandiya incident two days ago.

As soon as the exam is over, strong action will be taken in collaboration with the education department and the UCG against students who had sit for the exam from other areas, he has told BBC Sandeshaya.