Textbooks for next year: Delays due to quarantine curfew

Printing and distribution of school text books, especially in the Gampaha district, has been affected by quarantine curfew said Education Publications Department Commissioner General P. N. Ilapperuma. He said some areas would experience delays in the books being distributed.

“The delivery of text books for the Gampaha district was temporarily halted as soon as the curfew was imposed. However, after discussion with the Provincial Education Minister, we decided to resume the distribution under strict COVID-19 health guidelines. Even though distribution was temporarily ceased in the Gampaha district, distribution to other areas continued,” he said. Mr. Ilapperuma said deliveries would be done only after schools were informed prior to the dispatch, and it was confirmed that hand sanitisers and handwashing facilities were available at the drop point. “Health guidelines are strictly followed in our warehouses, therefore the books are handled in a safe manner,” he said.

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He also said text book printing at the Publication Department’s Divulapitiya and Kelaniya printing facilities had been affected by curfew.

“We have requested the Police to allow our workers to continue their work, as text book printing for next year, are currently taking place. The deadline for the comepletion of the printing process is December 11 this year,” Mr. Ilapperuma said.