The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the continuation of a government program that provides a Rs. 6,000 allowance per child for the purchase of school stationery, officials said.
The allowance was introduced in 2025 for children from families receiving the Aswesuma welfare benefit through the Welfare Benefits Board. It was also extended to students in schools with fewer than 300 students who are not covered by the Aswesuma program but are eligible for assistance.

The program further covers lay and monastic students studying in pirivena and seelamatha monasteries, as well as students attending schools in child development centres, through the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Professional Education.

Cabinet approval was granted for a proposal submitted by the prime minister, in her capacity as minister of education, higher education and professional education, to continue the program in 2026.