Xewkija mayor Simona Refalo said the council has issued a ban on excavation permits during exam season in a bid to ease pressures on students.

Refalo, who is also studying law, announced that the Xewkija Local Council has temporarily barred the issuing of any excavation permits nearby the University of Malta Campus in Xewkija.

She said that as a student herself, she understands exam pressures and for that reason she deemed it only right to stop any permits being issued near the place "hundreds" of students are sitting for exams.

Refalo said that no permits have been issued during the exam period. Additionally, she said that if "for some reason or another" anyone is carrying out such works in this time, any witnesses should swiftly report to the Xewkija Local Council.