The Cabinet of Ministers in Sri Lanka has approved a proposal to distribute vouchers for purchasing a pair of shoes to selected schoolchildren, Piriven (monastic) students, and Seela Mathas under the Ministry of Education’s welfare programme for 2026.
The initiative, presented by the Prime Minister in her capacity as Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Professional Education, aims to support students from low-income and rural communities.
The Ministry of Education will issue securely printed vouchers embedded with QR codes that can be verified via mobile applications.
Under the programme, vouchers will be distributed to:
- 644,000 students in schools with fewer than 250 pupils island-wide
- 53,093 students in estate schools with 251–500 pupils
- 2,300 students from 30 special needs schools
- 30,000 selected lay and clergy students from Piriven institutions
