- NODES has facilitated local as well as foreign students to follow 35 educational courses at 26 Access Centres throughout the country, through the Distance Education System being implemented based on a computer network.  In 2012, about 8000 students of the Open University have utilized the facilities at Access Centres of the NODES.  Further, in 2012, under a partnership programme the government has formed with the private institutes, it has been possible to provide learning facilities for about 6,500 employees in the government and the private sector, using technological facilities possessed by the  NODES and it is expected to increase this number up to 9000 by the end of 2013.  The proposal made by Hon. S.B. Dissanayake, Minister of Higher Education, to proceed with the proposed activities relating to NODES, was approved by the Cabinet.