A spokesman for the WPC said that this matter was once extensively discussed by Government authorities and also the clergy of all religions.

It is said that Dhamma and other religious classes are mainly conducted on Sunday mornings at Buddhist temples, churches, mosques and Hindu temples.

WPC Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said that schoolchildren attending tuition classes on Sunday mornings and Poya days has adversely affected them in participating in religious activities on Sunday mornings and poya days.

The Chief Minister said that schoolchildren, especially those under 16 years should engage in religious activities, since it is very useful for them to develop their moral values.

"Although, steps had been taken to ban tuition classes on these particular days and brought to the notice of teachers, many of them ignored this request," he said.(SO)