Nov 15, Colombo: A spread of a mysterious allergen was reported from Sri Lanka as another school in the central hill town of Gampola in Kandy District was closed today after 20 students admitted to the hospital with allergic symptoms.

The students of Panvilathenna School also had symptoms similar to those the hospitalized students of a girls' school in Gampola had yesterday.

Around 1,000 students of Jinaraja Girls School, where 2,425 girls study, were hospitalized yesterday morning after developing symptoms of allergy, including drowsiness, itching, rashes and breathing difficulty.

About 100 of the students admitted yesterday are still at the hospital receiving treatment.

The Sri Lankan Army has been summoned today for an operation to sterilize and clean the girls' school.

The authorities have closed the school until Monday. Officials of the Ministry of Health led by epidemiology specialist Sudath Peiris inspected the school today.

Meanwhile, Health Minister, Maithripala Sirisena has instructed Health Secretary, Dr. Nihal Jayathilake to conduct an investigation into the cause of the mysterious affliction at the Jinaraja Girls School.

Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake has also directed education officers and Health Officials to conduct an investigation in to the incident.