We will not change voucher system for uniforms: Akila Viraj

Education Minister Akila

Viraj Kariyawasam yesterday said the ministry had not changed the decision taken by it to provide vouchers to students instead of school uniforms.

He explained that after vouchers were promoted to replace instead of physically supplying the students with uniform material, the ministry was able to curb the corruption and waste of funds that were associated with the latter.

“Therefore, we have no intention of reversing this trend,” he said.

He also said following the procedural change the market monopoly for school uniform cloths had disappeared and the smallscale garment businessman and shops selling uniforms were benefiting from it.

Minister Kariyawasam said that several groups were attempting to mislead the public by making baseless statements about this change in policy. He rejected Ceylon Teachers’ Service Union (CTSU) General Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe’s claim made against the Ministry based on a Cabinet paper submitted jointly by the Ministry of Industries and the Education Ministry.

He said Mr. Jayasinghe was accusing the Ministry falsely while many fraudulent deeds committed by him are being exposed. He said Jayasinghe was attempting to popularize his trade union by making false accusations against his Ministry.