23.9.2008
Colombo News Desk

Production at the Embilipitiya Paper Mills will commence on next Wednesday.

This is the largest paper manufacturing firm in Asia. But it remained closed down for the past six years. Under the Mahinda Chinthana policy, it was taken over by the government and restored as an institute to strengthen national economy. The factory was renovated at a cost of 100 million rupees provided by the Treasury.

Currently there are 295 employees working at the factory. The Treasury has been providing funds amounting to 13 billion rupees during the past six years to pay the salaries of employees.

Chairman of the National Paper Company S. Amarasinghe says the government intends to maintain the factory as a government owned institution.