or a smaller school in a rural area, the typical day begins early, often by 6:00 a.m., to prepare for a school day that usually runs from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m..

Passing around plastic lunch sheets filled with red rice, dhal, and pol sambol.

Despite the academic load, schools offer a range of activities that foster teamwork and physical health.

Inside the Backpack: The Real Lifestyle and Entertainment of a Sri Lankan School Girl