The attack occurred in the afternoon in the Padaviya locality, a remote area in Anuradhapura district, Efe news reported.

Fifty five students -- aged between eight and 18 years -- and two teachers of the Sripura Jayanthi Maha Vidyalaya School were admitted to the regional hospital, a source from the health centre said.

Two students were in the ICU, whereas the rest "are out of danger and will be discharged after being kept under observation for a while," the source added.

The school's principal, Kularatne Bandara, told Efe that the incident occurred during school hours and the wasps came from a nearby jungle.

(IANS - uk.news.yahoo.com)