MoU signed to provide free local footwear to school children

Colombo, Janury 1 (Daily Mirror) - A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed today between the Education Ministry, the Industries and Entrepreneurship Ministry, and nine local footwear manufacturing companies to provide free locally produced footwear to school children.

The signing ceremony was held at the Education Ministry under the patronage of Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Harini Amarasuriya.

The pilot project will provide quality locally manufactured school footwear in place of the existing voucher system for schools with fewer than 250 students. Initially, the project will cover 1,266 schools in the Western and Southern Provinces, benefiting 150,521 students in 1,302 schools, 354 lay and monastic students, and 12,146 Sil Matas in 354 Pirivenas.

Local footwear manufacturers participating in the project have committed to supplying shoes with a one-year warranty at a cost of Rs. 2,100 per pair, saving nearly Rs. 140 million. Only local manufacturers registered with the Ministry of Industries were selected, and they will personally visit schools to ensure proper sizing for students.

The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, Secretary to the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Thilaka Jayasundara, Secretary to the Ministry of Education Nalaka Kaluwewa, along with ministry officials and local footwear manufacturers.