The Chinese Government has agreed to provide school uniform material, required by Sri Lankan schoolchildren for next year, free of charge, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha told Education Times. He said that the cost of the material is expected to be around Rs 6 billion. Minister Premajayantha said that he had discussions with the Chinese Government as well as the Chinese Ambassador in Colombo on the subject. Last year the Chinese Government provided school uniform material at half the charge. The minister said they hoped to distribute the material by December. (DWI)