Rain or sun, is white suitable for uniforms?

By M.R.M.K. Munasinghe, Kegalle

It's the rainy season and we are experiencing torrential rains in the evenings in almost all parts of the island. Then from December to April, normally dry weather prevails in most parts of the island.

There are advantages and disadvantages during both rainy and dry seasons. My intention is to point out to the authorities the inconvenience parents face during these seasons with the school uniforms of our children. We do appreciate and are grateful to the authorities for supplying school uniforms free to the children of the island. But is this white uniform suitable for the prevailing mud in the rainy season and the dust in the dry season?

On rainy days, the uniforms have to be washed on a daily basis because of the mud and in the dry season it turns off-white very easily with the dust. It will be an unnecessary burden, inconvenience and an additional cost to parents who are pressed with the overwhelming cost of living. In my view the time has arrived for the authorities to think of an alternative uniform for school children.

I think it is appropriate to introduce a white shirt with a dark blue or dark trouser for the boys and a white blouse with dark blue or dark skirt for the girls for the prevailing weather conditions in the island than the present uniforms of the school children.
And I think the time has arrived to introduce an appropriate uniform for school teachers too.