The second school term for all government and government-approved private schools across Sri Lanka began on Monday, following the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holidays.
Schools have been closed since April 11 for the Avurudu break, which typically extends through mid-April to accommodate the traditional New Year and the associated rituals, auspicious times and family travel.
The reopening is part of a wider post-Avurudu return to normal activity. Government offices, state-run transport services and most private workplaces have also resumed routine operations after the extended break, with the National Transport Commission and Sri Lanka Railways rolling out additional services last week to manage the return rush from rural districts back to Colombo.
The Ministry of Education had earlier issued a directive reminding schools that Avurudu-related expenses should not be passed on to parents, and that schools must resume on schedule despite the political and economic pressures of recent weeks.
The second term runs through the middle of the year. Teachers’ unions have flagged the term as important for exam preparation, particularly for students facing GCE Ordinary Level and Advanced Level assessments later in 2026.
