Ten fold increase in Valachchenai paper production

Ridma Dissanayake

The Valachchenai Paper Mill, destroyed by terrorists has been in operation during the last three years and is on course to reaching a monthly production target of 2,000 metric tons of paper by next year, State Resources and Enterprise Development Minister Dayashritha Tissera said.

He said when he became State Resources and Enterprise Development State Minister, the monthly production of this paper mill was around 30 metric tons.

"We increased this 10 fold following the end to terrorism," Tissera said.

Exporting stocks of local waste paper should be banned to improve the country's paper manufacturing industry, he said. "Though Sri Lanka's paper industry will not depend solely on waste paper to manufacture new paper for local requirements, the government has to place a prohibition order on waste paper exports," the minister said.

He said the Valachchenai Paper Mill produces 300 metric tons of paper every month.

"Hence, it requires around 3,500 metric tons of waste paper for the monthly production," Tissera said.

The Valaichchenai Paper Mill mainly recycles waste paper from public sector offices. The State Resources and Enterprise Development Ministry requested heads of government institutions to send waste paper to help it increase production.