Tuition classes in Western Province permitted to resume after April 12: Health Minister

Permission will be granted to resume private tuition classes in the Western Province after April 12 in accordance with the health guidelines, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said today.

She told Parliament that the maximum number of participants should be limited to 100 at a time.

Responding to a question raised by MP- B.Y.G. Rathnasekara, she said according to the guidelines issued by the Director-General of Health Services, private tuition classes will be granted permission to resume operations two weeks after the commencement of schools.

She said, however, health guidelines should be strictly followed when operating tuition classes including maintaining one-meter distance.

The Minister said the maximum participants of 100 would apply to mass classes as well and added that the maximum number of participants can be changed only after an expert committee headed by the health officials assessed the spread of COVID-19 situation in the country and assessing the risk of spreading the virus in the respective institutions. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)