Paper Mill at Embilipitiya - A Colossal Failure?

  Sri Lanka’s Embilipitiya Paper Mill : A Colossal Failure?         Introduction During colonial times all categories of paper & board were imported mainly from Britain & a few other countries, including the United States. A US Publication of the Department of Commerce gives details of imports in the years 1923-1925 & refers to the existence of a paper factory in Moratuwa, which produced only gray wrapping paper, printing paper and paper bags. An extract from this publication is given below: “FOREIGN AND NATIVE COMPETITION The United Kingdom leads in supplying all classes of paper to Ceylon, with the exception of tissue paper. Austria supplies most of the tissue paper and holds second place in the importation of printing paper. Sweden is the second largest supplier of printing, writing, wrapping, and tissue papers. Germany is second in the importation of blank books, third in that of writing paper, wrapping paper, tissue paper, and...