(COLOMBO) – The Sri Lankan education authorities have instructed all public and other schools to postpone outdoor activities for students as a heat wave has remained over the island-nation since mid February and is expected to last until the end of April.
Heads of schools have been informed in writing to strictly adhere to the instructions and to postpone sports meets and other outdoor activities in view of the prevailing high temperatures and to draw special attention to the health of the students, the Ministry of Education announced in a statement.
Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said that it had been observed that many schools have organised inter-house sports meets ignoring the prevailing hot weather conditions across the island.
Meanwhile, the Department of Meteorology stated that the heat index, the temperature felt on the human body, is expected to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the country.
“If the environmental temperature reaches body temperature, it can cause an increase in palpitations and decrease oxygen supply to the brain, thus leading to heat shocks, fainting and potential death, Consultant Paediatrician Dr. Deepal Perera said.
He said the normal body temperature of a person is 37.5°C (98.6°F). When the environmental temperature reaches 37°C, equivalent to human body temperature, increased sweating occurs, resulting in the loss of more water and minerals from the body through perspiration and hence certain complexities can occur.
Due to the prevailing high temperature, special attention should be paid to the children as well as the elderly, Dr. Perera said.
According to the country’s Meteorology Department Director General Athula Karunanayake the El Nino phenomenon is the main cause of the dry weather conditions occurring nationwide.
He told the media that rain can be expected from next Thursday until Saturday, but the heat will not decrease.
“In fact, the heat may further increase,” he added.
