Sri Lanka has received a generous grant of 11.28 million meters of fabric from the People’s Republic of China, intended for school uniforms in 2025. The grant, valued at approximately Rs. 5.2 billion, was officially handed over today (10) at the Colombo Port by Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong to Prime Minister and Minister of Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.
This donation will benefit students from 10,096 government and government-aided schools and 822 pirivens across the country. Since 1992, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Education has provided free school uniform materials, with a brief shift to a voucher system between 2015 and 2020. Since 2021, local textile manufacturers have been engaged in producing the uniforms.
Due to economic challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, China previously supported Sri Lanka in 2023 by donating 70% of the required uniform fabric, with the remainder sourced locally. For the 2025 batch, the Sri Lanka Textile and Garment Institute (SLITA) tested the fabric samples and deemed them suitable for school use, leading to the government’s approval of the grant.
During the handover ceremony, Prime Minister Dr. Amarasuriya thanked China and its leadership, emphasizing the shared value placed on education. She stated, “Investing in education means making it possible for all children, irrespective of socio-economic differences, to access education with dignity.”
This collaboration underscores the strong ties between Sri Lanka and China, with education serving as a critical bridge for development and mutual understanding.
