From correspondents in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 11:30 AM IST

Sri Lanka shut all government schools Wednesday and Thursday to neutralize a planned strike by teachers demanding a salary hike.

Minister of Higher Education Susil Premajayantha said the closure decision was taken seeing 'the risks associated with the teacher trade union action scheduled for tomorrow and the day after.

'The schools will be held on two extra dates in August in lieu of these two holidays,' the minister said.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)