Schools islandwide closed until April 30

All schools, pre-schools and pirivenas islandwide will remain closed until April 30, Cabinet Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said. 

He said the decision was taken during the Cabinet meeting held this morning. 

All tuition classes too have been suspended until April 30, the Government also announced. 

Earlier, the Government announced the closure of all schools, pre-schools and pirivenas in the Western and North-Western Provinces till April 30 due to a surge in COVID-19 cases in the two provinces. 

Meanwhile, Governors of Sabaragamua, North-Central and Eastern Provinces announced the closure of several schools in their respective provinces earlier today due to COVID-19 patients being detected from these areas.  

Though schools were open today in most provinces outside the Western and North-Western Provinces, student attendance was reported to be extremely low in many areas, as parents kept their children at home due to the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in the country.