The Faculty of Science at the University of Colombo will conduct academic activities online for one week from Monday (July 13), following requests from students concerned about the dengue outbreak, Vice-Chancellor Professor Indika Karunathilake said.
The university stressed that it has not been closed. Staff members must report to work as usual, and all university hostels will remain open, the Vice-Chancellor said.
The decision follows a similar move for four other faculties — Arts, Law, Education and Management — which shifted to online teaching for a one-week period from July 9.
The switch comes as dengue continues to strain institutions across the country. More than 67,000 cases have been reported nationwide this year, with 47 deaths. Colombo and the wider Western Province remain the worst-affected, the province alone accounting for nearly 35,000 cases.
The University of Visual and Performing Arts in Colombo, closed for two weeks over the outbreak, is due to reopen on July 13 after cleaning and fumigation, while the National Dengue Control Unit is rolling out a mosquito-control drive across 60 high-risk zones.
