Sri Lanka is seeking a fresh loan facility from India to print school textbooks for next year due to a severe shortage of paper in the island nation.
Education Minister Susil Premejanatha said in remarks published on Tuesday that steps have been taken to import raw materials including papers and ink required for textbook printing under an Indian credit line.
This follows government restrictions on paper imports as well as the ongoing economic crisis which have led to widespread shortages of even most essential goods.
The printing of the textbooks is to be completed by January for the 2023 academic year starting from next March, The Island newspaper reported.
