• Disaster-unaffected Provincial and District levels schools to be opened on 16 Dec. and unis/NCEs/VT institutes on 8 Dec. 

The remaining subjects of the General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (A/L) Examination, which could not be held due to the adverse weather conditions in the country, will be conducted in early January of next year (2026), the Secretary to the Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Ministry Nalaka Kaluwewa has announced.

Kaluwewa also noted that after reviewing the situation at the Provincial and District levels, schools in the Provinces and Districts not affected by transport disruptions, communication issues and power failures will reopen on 16 December of this year (2025). Decisions on reopening other schools will be taken as soon as possible in coordination with the relevant Provincial and District officials.

Kaluwewa pointed out that universities, National Colleges of Education (NCEs) and vocational training (VT) institutes that were not affected by the adverse weather are expected to reopen on 8 December. Additionally, if any higher education institution faces practical difficulties, the heads of those institutions will be given the authority to decide on the reopening date, Kaluwewa noted.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Kaluwewea stated that it would allocate the required funds to repair schools and other education-sector facilities affected by the adverse weather once the final assessments are completed. Kaluwewa said that the Ministry already has sufficient provisions and that money is set aside every year for emergency needs. "Funds for emergencies have been allocated for this year as well. We plan to release them once the officials identify the extent of the damage at each affected school." He added that officials have not yet been able to fully assess the damage to schools and related facilities, as some areas remain inaccessible. “Many schools are being used as relief centres for families affected by the floods and landslides. The final assessments will be carried out once these centres are vacated.”

Cyclone Ditwah brought significant destruction across several parts of Sri Lanka over the past week, with strong winds and heavy rain triggering severe floods and landslides. A large number of families have been displaced, and the death toll has continued to rise over the past few days. The storm also damaged public infrastructure, including school buildings, administrative offices, and roads, disrupting essential services across multiple Districts.