Textbook distribution to be completed before March 27: Minister

• The govt spent more than Rs. 16 billion to print more than 350 types of textbooks in three languages

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama   

The Ministry of Education is ready to complete the distribution of all essential textbooks before March 27, when the 2023 school academic year begins, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said.   

The inaugural programme for distribution of textbooks related to the academic year 2023 was held today at the Education Publication Department warehouse complex at Homagama.  
Addressing the event, the minister said that the need for textbooks will be completed  by providing essential books for primary classes and from grades 6 to 11.  

The Minister further said that the government spent more than Rs. 16 billion to print more than 350 types of textbooks in three languages, which is more than four times as much as before.  

The State Printing Corporation supplied 45% of the required books by obtaining raw materials via assistance provided by India.  

The remaining 55% will be printed by 22 private printing institutions. The minister expressed his gratitude to the private printers in Sri Lanka who offered to print textbooks with only an initial advance.   By overcoming the spread of false news claiming that textbooks will be distributed to rural areas and then to schools around the capital city, the ministry has decided to complete distributing textbooks to all government schools and government- aided schools as well as to private schools in due time to overcome the spread of malicious rumours and economic challenges.