Claim: Minister Sunil Handunnetti has announced a decision to provide stitched uniforms for school students starting from next year (2025).
Fact: Handunnetti announced that they expect to provide stitched uniforms to students in the coming years, but the statement was only a proposal shared during a recent event, not a final decision.
A news item is being shared on TikTok and Facebook stating that Minister of Industries Sunil Handunnetti has announced a decision to provide stitched uniforms for school students starting next year.
Sharing the claim on TikTok a user by the handle @enews1st wrote in Tamil, “From next year, it will be decided to give stitched uniforms to students. Industries Minister Sunil Handunnetti.”
Another account, called ‘Bullet News,’ posted on FB saying, “Government school students will be provided with stitched uniforms-Minister Sunil Handunnetti.”
Factcheck / Verification
On a preliminary probe using keyword searches, we found news reports in the mainstream media about the Minister’s statement regarding the distribution of stitched school uniforms to students. However, there was no mention of a decision being made on this matter.
On further research, we found that Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, Sunil Handunnetti, made a statement regarding this at an event at the BMICH on December 6th. He said, “This time, the Chinese government has donated uniforms for school students (for the 2025 school year). However, we expect to provide stitched uniforms to students in the coming year. This is because a significant amount of cloth is wasted when the material is supplied. We hope to reduce this waste by providing stitched uniforms.”
Former Cabinet Spokesperson Vijitha Herath stated during a press conference on November 6, 2024, at the Government Information Department that the Chinese government has agreed to donate all the fabric required to provide free uniforms to school and Sunday school students for the year 2025.
Accordingly, Sri Lanka received China’s fabric grant on December 10, 2024, at the Colombo Port, presented by Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong to Prime Minister and Minister of Education Dr Harini Amarasuriya.The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the Chinese government for providing the full school uniform requirement for the year 2025. She stated, “The requirement for school uniforms in 2025 is 11,817 million meters of fabric, and the number of students to be provided with uniforms is 4,640,086. The entire requirement for school uniforms in 2025 (100%) has been provided as a grant by the People’s Republic of China.”
Conclusion
Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, Sunil Handunnetti, proposed the idea of providing stitched uniforms to students in the coming years, but no official decision has been made yet. Additionally, Sri Lanka received China’s fabric grant for the full school uniform requirement for the year 2025 on December 10, 2024.
Result: False
Our Sources
News video on Minister Handunnetti’s statement on the Shraddha TV News YouTube channel, dated December 6, 2024.
Press release on Cabinet decisions taken on November 5, 2024.
News video of the Cabinet press meeting on the Ada Derana YouTube channel, dated November 6, 2024.
Press release from the Prime Minister’s Office about China’s donation of school uniforms, dated December 10, 2024.
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