UPDATE: Education Minister Professor G.L. Peiris stated that all pre-schools and Piriven will also be closed until Friday (April 30).

“The government has decided to close all schools, pre-schools and Piriven across the island until Friday (April 30),” the minister told reporters in Colombo today. 

“In the weekend, we will discuss with the health authorities, provincial education directors and school principals and reach a decision regarding the next week which is commencing on May 03.”

He assured parents that they always give priority to the healthcare of children when taking decisions regarding schools while also emphasizing the importance of strictly following health guidelines within schools.

The government has decided to close all schools and tuition classes across the island until the 30th of April, says Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.

The decision has been taken during the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held today (April 27).

Minister Rambukwella noted that all other educational institutions also should take measures to remain closed until Friday (April 30).

The country has been seeing a surge in the infections following the festivities of Sinhala and Tamil New Year last week.

Sri Lanka on Monday (April 26) witnessed the highest single-day COVID infections with a total of 997 including 45 arrivals from foreign countries and 8 from the prison cluster. Accordingly, confirmed coronavirus cases in the country now stand at 102,376. The death toll meanwhile reached 647.

Meanwhile, the health authorities revealed that a new highly transmissible, airborne variant of novel coronavirus has entered the country.

Accordingly, the members of the public have been urged to wear face masks properly and to adhere to the health protocols introduced by the authorities to prevent the further spread of the virus.