Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya confirmed that provincial and district authorities have been granted the authority to decide on reopening schools in areas affected by recent disasters, taking local conditions and safety into account.
While the Ministry of Education has announced that schools will reopen island-wide on December 16, the Prime Minister stressed that flexibility has been provided for authorities in high-risk areas to delay reopening if necessary.
She further stated that schools in vulnerable zones must obtain recommendations from the National Building Research Organization before reopening, with special attention given to access roads, buildings, and infrastructure.
At the meeting, district officials noted that despite the difficulties, significant progress is being made in implementing education reforms in the Nuwara Eliya District. The Prime Minister urged coordinated efforts among all stakeholders to overcome challenges and restore educational services efficiently.
The session was attended by Deputy Minister Dr. Madhura Seneviratne; MP and District Coordinating Committee Chairman Manjula Suraweera Arachchi; MPs Kalai Chelvi and Anushka Tilakaratne; District Secretary Thushari Tennakoon, along with other government officials.
