Opening of all schools scheduled for Jan. 3 for the new academic year 2005 has been postponed due to the massive disaster, Education Ministry sources said Wednesday.
The ministry will announce the new date later according to the process of rescuing operations.
A Xinhua reporter at Trincomalee, east of the island country, saw nearly all schools were battered, and students in this area also have lost their books and stationery.
The government said on Wednesday more than 21,715 people have been confirmed dead as rescue workers reported another 3,009 deaths from Sunday's earthquake-triggered tidal waves.
"We now have 21,715 people confirmed dead," said a social service officer of the state-run National Disaster Management Center.
He said more than 8,600 people also have been injured in the island nation which was hit by the devastating tsunami, triggered by the most powerful quake in 40 years in the Indian Ocean on Sunday. The tremor sent high waves crashing onto Sri Lanka's eastern and southern shores.