Feb 09, Colombo: Minister of Education Prof. GL Peiris said a decision has been taken to start all schools in the island for all grades from March 15.

While all islandwide schools with the exception of schools in the Western Province and Isolated Police divisions have already been reopened, the Ministry of Education has recently taken steps to obtain the recommendations of the District Development Committees regarding the opening of schools in the Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara Districts in the Western Province

The Minister further stated that the recommendations have already been received from the Colombo, Kalutara and Gampaha districts and it will be possible to open many schools in the Western Province on February 15 after receiving the approval of the health authorities.

The total number of schools in the Colombo District is 492, of which 412 have been recommended by the District Development Committees as having no problem starting from February 15.

Accordingly, the recommendations have been received to reopen 73 out of 76 schools in Colombo Divisional Secretariat, 29 out of 31 schools in Sri Jayewardenepura, 17 out of 49 schools in Kaduwela, 11 out of 26 schools in Padukka, 7 out of 32 schools in Maharagama, 24 out of 27 schools in Ratmalana, and all schools in the seven Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Kolonnawa, Homagama, Kesbewa, Dehiwala, Moratuwa and Seethawaka by February 15.

Only 80 schools in the Colombo district will not be able to reopen on February 15, according to the district committees.

All arrangements have been made to conduct the GCE Ordinary Level Examination from March 1 to 11, after which all schools in the island will be reopened to all grades from Monday, March 15, subject to the approval of the Health Authority, Educatin Minister Prof. GL Peiris further stated.