Posts on social media suggested that certain schoolchildren of certain races were over privileged while some faced injustice. Certain media reports too, reported that the value of the vouchers given to Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim students were different.

Defending the measure, ministry secretary - W.M. Bandusena says that the difference in the voucher value is not based on the race. It has been decided after considering the minor differences of the students' school uniform, he added.