The Minister said that this decision was arrived at following requests made by parents as well as teachers. The time for children to play and remain in houses has considerably reduced as they have to leave their homes early morning and return until late in the evening. Also, the Minister  said that in a country like Sri Lanka where climate conditions vary according to areas the school hours cannot be extended. Therefore he has taken this decision of revising the school hours of all national schools to function from 7.30am to 1.30pm.

He also said that the school hours of Mahinda Rajapaksa College in Homagama will be revised with immediate effect to function from 7.30am to 1.30 pm.  During the past the school hours of this schooh was from 7.30 am to 3.30 p.m.