Treasury to release Rs. 1.4 billion for school uniforms

Cabinet gives approval for Chinese and Pakistan companies, 2012 need over Rs.1 b

By Uditha Jayasinghe

Over Rs.1 billion has been allocated to purchase school uniform material for 2012 by the Cabinet, a government spokesman said yesterday.

Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told media that on a proposal made by Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena to import school uniform materials through State Trading Corporation spending Rs. l 054 million to ensure timely delivery of school uniforms was approved by the Cabinet.

Accordingly 5,810,000 meters of white shirt or frock material and 980,000 meters of white trouser material, 777,000 meters of blue trouser material and 400,000 meters of robe material will be imported from China and Pakistan.

Quotations were submitted by seven organisations that were evaluated by the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) and their submissions were passed onto the Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee.

Shaoxing Xiangyue Textile and Fashion Company has won the tender to import all white shirt or frock material as well as white and blue trouser cloth. Bissmillah Textiles is a Pakistan company that will be importing the robe material.

“The allocation made in the Budget estimates for 2011for the supply of school uniform material is Rs.1595 million. As of now a sum of Rs.1098 million has been spent for the purchase of material for 2011-2012. For the purchase of material from local procedure for 2012, a further payment of Rs. 290 million has to be made. For the above imports a sum of Rs. 1100 million is needed. As such obtaining provisions from the Treasury for Rs. 1390 million is required,” the Cabinet paper said.

Opening letters of credit will be done within 90 days of the approval being given.