State schools in Sri Lanka resumed classes on Monday amid tight security after the Easter Sunday bombings, but many anxious parents kept their children at home over fears of more attacks.
Soldiers conducted a security sweep of schools on Sunday after state institutions were asked to re-open on a staggered basis. Most classrooms were near empty despite the tight security and military patrols.
“I have decided not to send my son to school until the country returns to normal,” said Sujeeva Dissanayake, whose son goes to the state-run Asoka College in Colombo.
She and other parents were at the school to help provide security. Mid-to-upper stream classes resumed on Monday, to be followed by lower grades at a later date.
Private schools, including Catholic institutions, remained closed.