June 07, Colombo (LNW): The Education Ministry will provide vouchers for schoolgirls to buy sanitary napkins based on the allocation of one billion rupees.
The programme of supplying free vouchers for adult schoolgirls to purchase sanitary napkins will be implemented from this month. The inauguration of the gift voucher programme, funded with an investment of one billion rupees, took place at President’s Girls’ College in Nawala yesterday (6).
Accordingly, the Education Ministry has taken steps to provide free vouchers to purchase sanitary napkins for six months beginning from June. A gift voucher worth Rs. 1,200 each will be given to female students. These vouchers will be distributed through schools, ensuring all adult female students in seven national estate schools and all provincial schools receive them.
Sanitary napkins can be purchased using these gift vouchers from retail shops registered with the Education Ministry. It is the responsibility of the students to purchase quality sanitary napkins certified by the Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI).
The gift voucher is divided into two parts, each worth Rs. 600. Part A is valid from June 10, 2024, to July 10, 2024, and Part B can be used from September 1, 2024, to September 30, 2024. Sanitary napkins must be purchased within these time frames.
This initiative aims to support children’s personality development and healthy well-being, which are crucial for the successful maintenance of the learning-teaching process in schools. It is expected to encourage school attendance among female students and address issues related to health and education disruptions during economic hardships.
