Schools were reopened for the mental well-being and psychosocial welfare of children as school is the safest place for children apart from the family.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the government is committed to rebuild the country, and that schools were reopened for the mental well-being and psychosocial welfare of children, as school is the safest place for them apart from their family.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating in the Parliamentary debate held on the 19 th of December to pass the Supplementary Estimates aimed at restoring the country to normalcy.
The Prime Minister further stated,
On the 19th of December, Parliament gathered to pass the Supplementary Estimates after nearly three weeks since the country was affected by Cyclone Ditwah.
The Prime Minister commended the collective efforts of the government, public officials, the tri-forces, the police, the people of this country, the international community, and the support extended by opposition Members of Parliament made it possible to bring the country to this level of recovery from the day the emergency situation arose on the 27 of November.
The Prime Minister emphasized that under the guidance and leadership of the President, it was possible to recover the country to its current state. Despite the severe impact on infrastructure such as water supply, electricity, and major roads, the government was able to restore these services to a significant extent.
The Prime Minister noted that it is a matter of relief that normal civilian life has been restored to a considerable degree and that many provinces have been rehabilitated.
She stressed that this disaster is not a single isolated incident but a dynamic situation. Even today, all schools in the Central Province had to be closed due to prevailing conditions. Under the current circumstances, even normal rainfall could pose increased risks, and landslides could occur at any moment. Anyone who visits these areas can clearly see the danger. Therefore, decisions are taken through continuous monitoring.
Accordingly, the Prime Minister noted that as in the initial phase, the government will continue to prioritize public safety, carry out rescue operations whenever necessary, and implement long-term measures to rebuild the country while ensuring the safety of the people.
She further noted, that there may be situations where schools need to be relocated and villages reconsidered. This is a short-term, medium-term, and long-term plan, which is expected to span two to three years.
The Supplementary Estimates have been presented for 2026 in a planned and systematic manner. A supplementary allocation of LKR 500 billion has been proposed for 2026 without causing any harm to the economy.
While continuing within a broader economic framework, these plans are designed to prevent the country from falling back into a debt trap. As a result of the government has focused on sound economic management from the outset, it has been possible to allocate LKR 75 billion and present these estimates for 2026 without compromising economic targets.
The Prime Minister also expressed her gratitude to all those who extended support especially the international community, the Sri Lankan diaspora, Sri Lankans living abroad, private institutions, volunteer organizations, the general public, and children who contributed materials, labor, and funds to help the country recover.
The Prime Minister stated that both the public and the international community have expressed confidence in the government, saying they were able to support these efforts without hesitation because of the trust they have in the government. She further added that the unity of the nation and the international assistance received are a result of confidence in the transparent and corruption-free governance the government has presented.
Addressing the education sector, the Prime Minister noted that the information presented is based on data received as of December 17, acknowledging that the situation continues to change daily.
According to available data, approximately 1,382 schools have been directly affected by the disaster, with the highest number of damaged schools in the Central, Uva, and Sabaragamuwa Provinces. As of now, all schools except 666 have been reopened.
However, due to the re-closure of schools in the Central Province today, this number has increased again. Several schools are also being used as safety and relief centers. All these factors were considered when decisions were made regarding the reopening of the schools.
The Prime Minister emphasized that schools were reopened not only after assessing the infrastructure but also with careful attention to children’s mental health and psychosocial well-being. Reintegrating children into normal life was a priority, as there is no place safer than school for children apart from their families. Therefore, education authorities have been instructed to use this period not for traditional academic routines, but as an opportunity to support children’s mental well-being and psychosocial recovery.
The Prime Minister further noted that students were sitting for the GCE Advanced Level examinations when the disaster occurred. The remaining seven examination days have been rescheduled, and special attention will be given to those students. Similar attention is being paid to students preparing for the GCE Ordinary Level examinations. The government is in the process of providing financial assistance of LKR 25,000 to all children affected by the disaster through LKR 10,000 from the President’s Fund and LKR 15,000 from the Treasury. She stressed that children are not being brought back to schools merely for teaching purposes, but with careful consideration of their psychological condition following the disaster.
The Prime Minister also noted that universities, colleges of education, and vocational training centers have suffered damage, with the University of Peradeniya being significantly affected. However, it was observed that even a single building designed by Sir Ivor Jennings had not been damaged, demonstrating the importance of proper scientific planning and construction in appropriate locations. She stated that many of the disasters faced today are the result of poor decisions taken in the past, and future reconstruction will focus on minimizing risk. The Prime Minister invited the opposition to extend support to these efforts.
The Prime Minister noted that the task will be undertaken through scientifically informed, step-by-step approaches. She reiterated the government’s promise to the country and its people to rebuild the nation. She stated that this task will be accomplished collectively, and through unity, the country can be restored to normalcy while ensuring the safety of all citizens. She called upon everyone to extend their support to the government in this endeavor.
Prime Minister’s Media Division