49 schools in Kandy town and surrounding areas will remain closed from April 21 – 25 in view of the special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the Central Province Chief Secretary and Education Secretary – Madhupani Piyasena said.

The special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic is scheduled to take place at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on April 18. Thereafter, it will continue daily for ten days, from 12:00 noon to 5:30 p.m.

The schools that will closed are as follows : 
1. Gurudeniya Maha Vidyalaya
2. Vidyaloka Maha Vidyalaya, Thennekumbura
3. Dharmaraja College
4. D.S. Senanayake Maha Vidyalaya
5. Mahamaya Girls’ College
6. Berrewaerts College
7. Berrewaerts Primary School
8. Siddhartha College, Ampitiya
9. Dambawela Primary School
10. Gothami Balika Vidyalaya
11. Sri Rahula National School
12. St. Anthony’s College
13. St. Anthony’s Girls’ College
14. Sri Chandananda Buddhist Girls’ College
15. Vidyartha College
16. Thakshila College
17. Hemamali Girls’ College
18. St. Sylvester’s College
19. Gannoruwa Junior School, Denuwara
20. Eriyagama Pushpadana Vidyalaya, Denuwara
21. Samudradewi Girls’ College, Wattegama
22. Kandy Model School, Wattegama
23. Mahaweli Maha Vidyalaya, Wattegama
24. Kappetipola Vidyalaya, Kandy
25. Sanghamittha College, Kandy
26. Dharmasoka College, Kandy
27. Senkadagala Weerodhara Vidyalaya, Kandy
28. Rasindev Vidyalaya, Kandy
29. Vimalabuddhi Vidyalaya, Kandy
30. Lumbini Royal College, Kandy
31. Peradeniya Hindu College, Kandy
32. Peradeniya Junior Secondary School, Kandy
33. Peradeniya Central College, Kandy
34. Sarasawi Uyana Maha Vidyalaya, Kandy
35. Ranabima Royal College, Kandy
36. Mahanama College, Kandy
37. Kingswood College, Kandy
38. Seethadevi Girls’ College, Kandy
39. Dharmawickrema Girls’ College, Kandy
40. Siddhi Lebbe College, Kandy
41. Swarnamali Girls’ College, Kandy
42. Girls’ High School, Kandy
43. Viharamahadevi Girls’ College, Kandy
44. Madduma Bandara Vidyalaya, Kandy
45. Hindu Senior College, Kandy
46. Good Shepherd’s Convent, Kandy
47. Pushpadana Girls’ College, Kandy
48. Vivekananda Vidyalaya, Kandy
49. Wariyapola Sri Sumangala College, Kandy

The Norochcholai Power Plant has temporarily shut down one of its generators due to a decrease in daily electricity demand, according to Dhammika Wimalaratne, the spokesperson for the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).

This measure has been in effect since April 11th.

The CEB expects to reconnect the inactive generator to the national grid by April 21st.

According to reports, power plants that generate electricity using fuel have also been deactivated, prioritizing electricity generation from hydropower plants and renewable energy sources.

Disconnect only if an SMS is received

Meanwhile, the CEB has urged rooftop solar system owners to temporarily disconnect their units only if they receive an SMS notification from the board and only until 03.00 pm.

A statement by the CEB notes that they have decided that the electricity supply needs to be managed during the April holidays, following a detailed study on the forecast demand for electricity during the time period.

The oil anointing tradition for this year’s Sinhala and Tamil New Year was held today (April 16).

The National Zoological Gardens of Sri Lanka in Dehiwala also performed these rituals on several of its inhabitants.

The rituals began with the ‘Kadol’ elephant, continuing a customary tradition of blessing elephants during the New Year period.

The head of a brown bear recently received by the zoo from United Arab Emirates, was also anointed.

However, the most special zoo resident that was included in these rituals, was the 153-year-old giant tortoise, recognized as the oldest living animal in Sri Lanka.

The event was organized by the zoo’s management team under the guidance of Director General Chandana Rajapaksa and coordinated by Deputy Director Dinushika Manawadu.