Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

Prelates of Asgiriya, Malwattu Chapters welcome decision to re-open schools

- BY CHAMIL RUPASINGHE - KANDY

Malwathu Chapter Anunayake Most Ven, Niyangoda Sri Vijithasir­i Thera, Asgiriya Chapter Anunayake, Most Ven. Anamaduwe Dhammadass­i Thera and Asgiriya Chapter Registrar Most Ven. Medagama Dhammanand­a Thera said that the re-opening of schools during Covid-19 pandemic was a good decision and students and parents seem support that decision.

Keeping the children confined to homes had a negative impact specially on rural children. Also urban children who were engaged in many activities during school hours, were also impacted with the closing down of schools

Education Minister, G. L. Peiris received the blessings from the Theras yesterday.

They also said that schools were closed for a long time last year and as the end of Covid-19 situation is not expected in the near future. “Keeping schools closed further will only affect the children. We will have to live with

Covid-19 and there is nothing wrong in opening the schools following the health guidelines,” they added.

Most Ven. Niyangoda Sri Vijithasir­i Thera said that by facing examinatio­ns during Covid-19, students showed that they could face anything in a safe manner. None of the students who sat for Grade five Scholarshi­p examinatio­n contracted the virus and only one student who sat for A/L tested positive.

Asgiriya Chapter Anunayake, Anamaduwe Dhammadass­i Thera said that keeping the children confined to homes had a negative impact specially on rural children. “Also urban children who were engaged in many activities during school hours, were also impacted with the closing down of schools,” he added. The Registrar of the Asgiriya Chapter Most Ven. Medagama

Dhammanand­a Thera said that he could not approve the criticisms of unions in the Education sector aimed at re-opening of schools by the government. “When students continue to remain at homes, their lives will go backwards. I appreciate the government’s decision to re-open schools amidst challenges,” he added.

He also said that A/L results will be issued in April and students will be admitted to universiti­es in September. Results of O/L examinatio­n in March will be issued in June and A/L classes will begin in July.

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