Sixty-eight schools in total have been utilized for O/L paper marking and will reopen for the new term on January 12 as they will remain closed from Jan 6-9, the Secretary of the Education Ministry, Anura Dissanayake said.  

He stated a large number of school buildings, teachers and principals are to be used for election-related duties and that those schools will be closed on January 7, 8 and 9.

Government and state-approved private schools are to be reopened on January 12.  

Meanwhile schools that will be utilized for the security arraignments due to the visit of Pope Francis will be closed from January 11-15 and reopen on January 16.