Feb 07, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Education Ministry says that nearly 350 schools in the country have been closed between 2005 and 2010 and 112 schools were closed due to the conflict in the North and East.

Responding to a question posed by the United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian Sajith Premadasa, Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena told parliament that most of the schools were shut down due to the decline in the student percentage in these schools and the conflict.

According to the Minister the government had closed 39 schools in 2005, 40 schools in 2006, 74 schools in 2007, 14 schools in 2008, 104 schools in 2009 and 79 schools in 2010.

He has noted that the schools have not been closed due to lack of resources.