By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera  

Plans are afoot to provide tab computers to 1,401 national and provincial level schools in the country within March and April, Education Reforms, Open Universities and Distance Learning Promotion State Minister Susil Prema Jayantha said yesterday.  

He told Parliament that 96,919 tab computers have already been purchased from Abans Pvt. Ltd. for that purpose.  The Minister said the Abans was selected out of several bidders through a bidding process and added that funds were allocated from the 2020 budget to purchase the tabs.  

He said Cabinet decision was taken not to provide the tabs to Advanced Level teachers and students and added that the tab computers would be provided for the use of 1,401 national and Provincial level schools.  

The Minister said the Education Ministry and State Ministry of Education Reforms have planned to create 3,000 secondary schools by 2023 and internet facilities would be provided to all those schools to ensure smooth on-line education.  

He said Sri Lanka Telecom and Mobitel  were working together to provide internet facilities to the 3,000 schools to make the project a success.

• The Minister said the Education Ministry and State Ministry of Education  Reforms have planned to create 3,000 secondary schools by 2023 and  internet facilities would be provided to all those schools