Concessions for school stationery and books to be discussed with Finance Min.

Next week, the Education Ministry will take up the topic of giving tax concessions on school equipment and books with the Finance Ministry.

This move will be taken following the complaints about the increase in prices of stationery items and school equipment due to the taxes imposed by the 2023 Budget and the appreciation of the US dollar, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said recently.

Therefore, discussions would be held with the Finance Ministry on seeking tax concessions on items used by students. Minister

Premajayantha also said several other measures were being discussed to provide relief to students.

He said one of the concessions would be to issue exercise books through the State Printing Corporation (SPC) at 40 per cent less than the normal market price. The books would be made available through schools. The SPC currently has 11 outlets across the island.

Parents should not rush to purchase school stationery items as the school term would officially begin in April for the 2023 academic year, SPC Chairman J.M. Jayasekara said.

Around 11 million books would be printed, and he hoped the new books would be ready before April.

“We expect that market prices will reduce when we start releasing books to the market,” he said.

He also said they were expecting printing material from India under a US$ 20 million credit line.

Minister Premajayantha said another package was being prepared to provide school equipment and stationery items at a further concessionary price for low income earning families.