SLAP and SLSI join hands to elevate Sri Lanka’s printing industry to global standards

Tuesday, 10 February 2026 05:14 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A fruitful and forward-looking discussion was held recently at the headquarters of the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) in Colombo, marking a significant milestone in the journey to transform Sri Lanka’s printing industry through internationally recognised standards and sustainable practices.

The meeting focused on finalising a strategic collaboration project proposal between SLSI and the Sri Lanka Association of Printers (SLAP), aimed at uplifting the printing sector to the next level during the 2025–2030 period.

Under the proposed initiative, 10 to 20 pilot “Model Printing Companies” will be developed across the country by introducing and implementing globally benchmarked management and sustainability systems, including ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management Systems) and ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management Systems), along with other relevant standards where applicable.

The discussion was led by SLSI Director General Dr. Siddhika G. Senaratne together with three Directors representing key technical, training and certification divisions of the Institution, who reaffirmed SLSI’s commitment to supporting industry-wide quality, environmental responsibility, and international competitiveness.

Representing SLAP at the meeting were Sri Lanka Association of Printers President Eng. Janaka Rathnakumara, First Vice President Nishantha Perera, Executive Committee Member Dinesh Mervin, Manager Leonard Edward, and Secretary Anusha Kannangara.

Addressing the importance of the initiative, Eng. Janaka Rathnakumara stated that the proposed collaboration aligns closely with SLAP’s Strategic Vision 2025–2027, themed “Printing for Prosperity: Driving Innovation, Sustainability, and Growth in Sri Lanka’s Print Industry.” He emphasised that structured adoption of ISO standards would help local printers enhance productivity, reduce environmental impacts, strengthen compliance, and improve access to international and export markets.

The proposed SLAP–SLSI program will include industry-wide awareness programmes, technical training, gap assessments, mentoring, certification audits, and national-level recognition of certified model companies. Once successfully implemented, the pilot phase is expected to serve as a replicable national framework for broader rollout across the printing sector.

Both parties expressed confidence that this collaboration will not only strengthen institutional ties between SLAP and SLSI but also contribute meaningfully to Sri Lanka’s industrial development, sustainability agenda, and global competitiveness.

The meeting concluded with consensus to proceed towards formalising the collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), paving the way for implementation in the coming months.