Severe fuel shortage; schools closed in Sri Lanka for a week, instructs to conduct online classes

COLOMBO: Due to severe fuel shortage, holiday has been declared for schools in Sri Lanka for a week from yesterday. The education minister informed that the order is applicable to all government and private schools and the schools will cover the syllabus in the next vacation term.The government had also ordered closure of schools for a week on June 18 also.

Sri Lankan Education Ministry Secretary Nihal Ranasinghe asked school authorities to conduct online classes. He also said that classes can be conducted for divisional level schools which are not affected by transportation problems.

He also informed that the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka has agreed not to have power cuts from 8 am to 1 pm to facilitate online teaching during weekdays.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's Ministry of Education has announced that all government and aided schools in Colombo city limits and schools in other major cities in other provinces will also be closed next week due to power outages.