Sri Lanka’s government closes all schools for a week

"Students and staff must be able to go to school with confidence. That's why the government has decided to close schools," said the statement from the Ministry of Education. The concern of the population grew after hundreds of detainees and staff from a drug rehabilitation center in the north central province tested positive for the virus in the past few days.

Colombo (Asia News) - The Sri Lankan government has decided to close all schools for a week from today, 13 July. Classes, private schools and Catholic schools have been invited to consider the government's decision and to close schools during this period.

A statement from the Ministry of Education says that parents, schoolchildren, principals and officials "have become fearful" due to some false social media information about COVID-19.

The concern of the population grew after hundreds of detainees and staff from a drug rehabilitation center in the north central province tested positive for the virus in the past few days. And several thousand detainees, their family members from various parts of the country and even staff were sent to quarantine after a detainee was found positive on July 7th.

Subsequent tests found that more than 300 of the 1,140 inmates and staff at the center are infected. Although the government insists that there is no community transmission of the virus, health authorities have not yet offered an explanation as to how an inmate in the camp was infected.

"Students and staff must be able to go to school with peace of mind. That's why the government has decided to close schools," said the statement from the Ministry of Education issued by the additional secretary Ranjith Chandrasekara.

According to the director of Catholic schools, Father Ivan Perera, "In line with the government's decision to close schools, all Catholic schools will also be closed from July 13 to 17".

The Ministry of Education has also set up an information center with the provincial directors of education and health promotion staff at the Ministry's headquarters for information on all the places where the schools are located.

The center can be contacted via the 1988 hotline or fax 011-2-78 58 18 and by email info@moe.gov.lk

Meanwhile, the ruling party, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, temporarily suspended the rallies yesterday. of the election campaign planned with President and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa until further notice. August 5 is the day scheduled for the parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka.

• Sri Lanka
• coronavirus
• schools
• prisons
• drug center