The government has focused on creating an opportunity to purchase products manufactured by local producers through the voucher issued by the Ministry of Education for the purchase of school shoes, prioritizing schools with fewer than 250 students.

A discussion regarding the next steps of this project was held at the Parliamentary Committee Room under the patronage of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, and the Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, Mr. Sunil Handunneththi.

This new joint initiative by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Industrial Development will allow schoolchildren from schools with fewer than 250 students, estate schools with 251–500 students, schools with children with special needs, and Pirivenas with both lay and ordained student populations to purchase locally manufactured school shoes. The Sri Lanka Institute of Textile and Apparel will oversee the quality standards of these shoes.

Only local manufacturers registered with the Ministry of Industrial Development will be selected for this project. The Minister of Industries and Development, Mr. Sunil Handunneththi, informed the Prime Minister that manufacturers have agreed to provide high-quality shoes with a one-year warranty, and that sending suppliers directly to schools will enable students to select the correct shoe size.

Under the pilot phase of this project, schools in the Western and Southern Provinces have been selected. The Prime Minister noted that, following a feasibility study, it would be appropriate to extend this project to other provinces as well.

The Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mr. Nalaka Kaluwewa, the Secretary of the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, Mrs. Thilaka Jayasundara, and several other officials participated in this meeting.

Media Unit