by Saman Indrajith
Sabaragmuwa University will be closed from today until further notice as chicken pox has been spreading within the university community and its surrounding area very rapidly, university sources said yesterday.

Vice Chancellor of the University Prof. I.K.Perera, when contacted over the telephone said that he was urged by the regional health officials that a temporary closure of the university will enable the control of spreading the disease.

"Health officials of the region indicated that spread of the disease will be less if we co-operate with them closing the university temporarily. We hope to resume academic activities in two weeks time," he said.

A sub-warden of the university, Saman Samaraweera said that nearly 30 students were infected with the disease and almost all of them went home for treatment.

"Only one student had sought treatment at the nearby Pambahinna hospital. Last year too prior to the exam period students were infected with chicken pox and the university had to be closed temporarily. It may be due to strong winds that the virus is spreading," he said.