July 31, Colombo: Sri Lanka Ministry of Education says that a new programme costing Rs. 60 billion will be launched from next year to develop 1,000 secondary schools.

The programme aims to reduce the competition to enter urban and popular schools and give equal opportunity for all in education, overcoming the problems of nutrition and transport.

Under the four-year programme, a network of secondary schools surrounded by at least three primary schools will be developed.

Infrastructure such as classrooms, libraries, computer laboratories, science laboratories etc. will be built in these schools.