Mar 13, Colombo: A movement in Sri Lanka, Movement to Protect Schools, has commenced a week of protests in order to safeguard the country's school education system and schools.

Convener of the movement, Dhammika Alahapperuma said the government while providing for the main schools in the country is looking at shutting down around 3,500 schools without providing them with required facilities.

He observed that there are around 1,609 schools with less than 50 children as the government has failed to uplift the standards of rural schools since the focus has been on the main schools.

He explained that the provincial councils are in the process of shutting down schools with fewer facilities.

"We will collect signatures to a massive banner from the 11th till the 17th against the break down in the school education system and the government's failure to address it," Alahapperuma said.