The Education Ministry has decided to conduct random Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) in schools to detect COVID-19 infections among students, the Education Minister G.L. Peiris said.

He said the Ministry had decided to conduct RATs on 30 students from two or three schools daily.

The RAT results will lead to take decisions on reopening schools and to find out the nature of COVID-19 virus spread among the schoolchildren," the Minister said. 

He said these tests will not only be done targeting COVID-19 viral infections, it would include a full-body check up on the children as well. 

Meanwhile, Education Ministry Secretary Prof. Kapila Perera said the programme had already been commenced today in three schools in Colombo. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)