Sri Lanka’s printing industry is facing difficulties to continue operations due to the shortage of raw materials.
The Book Publishers’ Association recently pointed out that the prices of paper have risen by about 150 percent amidst the prevailing shortage of US dollars to import the paper required to meet the local demand.
The rate of paper imported to Sri Lanka is now gradually declining, compared to 120,000 tonnes of paper imported to the country every month usually, a spokesperson for the National Paper Company Limited told News 1st.
The Printing Press Owners meanwhile, pointed out that there is a shortage of Ink and Toners as well in the local market.
Earlier, Sri Lankan Book Publishers warned that the book publishing process for school Exercise Books has dropped by 70%, mainly due to banks not opening Letters of Credit to import paper.
Book Publishers told News 1st that they are finding it difficult to source paper to keep up with the demand.
Due to the present economic situation, their production process which operated all week is limited to two to three days, local publishers said.
They are requesting the authorities to immediately intervene and solve the issue and warned that if this situation continues there will be a serious shortage of exercise books when schools re-open for the second term.