Jan 06, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government is to implement a nationwide program to establish 1000 fully equipped secondary schools in the country.

The Cabinet yesterday approved a proposal submitted by the Minister of Education Bandula Gunawardena to begin the national program to be implemented within a period of four years beginning from this year.

The government says funds have already been received from the Asian Development Bank for the development of 100 such schools and financial assistance from the World Bank is expected from the second quarter of this year.

The Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) has been awarded the contract for planning and supervision while the construction work will be awarded on Open Competitive Bidding basis, the government said.

"Medium and Small Scale contractors in the locality of the respective provinces will be given preference in this process," the government said in a statement.