The University of Malta will be closed on the days during which the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will be held in Malta in late November, The Malta Independent has learnt.

The University will be closed ‘for national security reasons’, Rector Professor Juanito Camilleri wrote in a circular addressed to all academic members of staff, all administrative, technical and industrial staff, and all the students.

“For national security reasons, the University of Malta has been requested by the organising committee to reduce its activities (between 27 and 29 November). As a result, all University premises will be closed including faculties located at Mater Dei Hospital (Faculties of Medicine and Surgery, Health Sciences and Dental Surgery), Junior College, Argotti Gardens and all other off campus university offices”.

All lectures scheduled for Friday 27 November are postponed, and any lectures or other activities scheduled to take place at the Msida campus are also postponed, the rector wrote.

No parking will be allowed in Car Park 6 during the said days, and all members of staff are to consider themselves on special leave on 27 November, the circular concluded.

In June, the government had announced that all primary and seconday state schools would also be shut for the duration of the meeting, but it is understood that this has now been extended to all schools.

The security reasons were not specified.