No paper to print exam papers and electricity bills; Water Board to introduce digital payment methods

The severe shortage of printing paper owing to the US dollar crisis has caused chaos in many different fields. The shortage has already forced the Western Province Education Director to change the schedule of final term exams in schools. Accordingly, term end exams for Grades 6, 7 and 8 are to be conducted at school level. Exams for Grades 9, 10 and 11 have been postponed indefinitely.

Some schools have also asked parents to purchase bundles of A4 paper and hand them over.

The situation has also affected the issuing of utility bills. Electricity consumers in some parts of Colombo say that meter readers have not given them proper electricity bills for this month claiming there is no paper to print the bills.

Some people have been given a bill that is different from their usual bill. Some meter readers have simply told consumers their reading for this month without giving any bill at all, or they asked consumers to write down the reading and the amount due for the month.

Meanwhile, the Water Supply and Drainage Board is introducing digital payment methods for consumers owing to a shortage of paper to print bills.