The Cabinet has approved the continuation of a program to provide sanitary napkins to schoolgirls in 2026, aimed at ensuring uninterrupted education.
The initiative will cover about 1.05 million adolescent girls studying in Grades 6 and above in all government schools, as well as in government-approved special schools.
Under the program, each student will receive vouchers worth Rs. 1,440, issued as two vouchers of Rs. 720 each, Cabinet spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said.
The vouchers can be used to purchase sanitary napkin packs during the year, based on individual preference.
Options include 12 packs containing eight napkins priced at Rs. 120 each, or eight packs containing 10 napkins priced at Rs. 180 each.
The proposal was submitted by the Prime Minister in her capacity as Minister of Education and received Cabinet approval.
The national programme to provide sanitary napkins to schoolgirls was launched in 2024 by the Ministry of Education. (Newswire)