Distributing vouchers is more practical than providing school uniforms: Edu. Minister

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama and Buddika Kumarasiri   

Distributing vouchers instead of providing school uniforms would be the most practical and efficient method, the Education Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said yesterday, addressing a ceremony at Dharmapala Vidyalaya at Pannipitiya yesterday.  

The minister lamented it was regrettable that steps had not been taken to provide school uniforms in time for 4.4 million students before the school holidays and said that the ministry should take responsibility for this lapse.  

Following discussions with the Cabinet, the decision had been taken to provide school uniforms at least by the second week of January 2020, the Minister said.  
The government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is a government with responsibilities. The government is focussed on the future, the Minister added at the event.