"The postal exchanges have been increased by 35 per cent during the Christmas season and the demand for postal stamps has also increased by 50 per cent," Post Master General S. Senadeera said.

"The Government Press was not able to print the required amount of stamps and the Government has requested ‘Madras Printers’, India to provide Sri Lanka the required amount of stamps as a matter of great urgency," said Senadheera.

According to him, Postal Department will receive 40 million of stamps Rs.5, Rs.10, Rs.20 Rs.30 denominations which would cost Rs.200 million totally.

Although the Government Press was expected to provide 17 million stamps for this season, only 0.9 million stamps will be provided by next week. Stamps provided from India will be used to meet the current demand. "These stamps will be used for nine months 2007 and then Government Press will given the orders to print the entire stamps requirement locally," said Senadheera.

He noted that although the Government had decided to stop stamp imports, as the Government Press had agreed to print the required amount of stamps and the decision had been changed due to increase in sales this season.

Before 2002 the total stamp requirements had been printed in foreign countries and subsequently Sri Lanka started to print stamps through the Government Press in 2002 in a bid to save foreign exchange.

"But the Government Press was unable to provide the required amount of stamps every year and again we had to place orders in foreign countries. The Government Press has been set up to print other state documentations and while doing that it finds it difficult supply stamps requirement of the country," said Posts and Telecommunications Ministry sources.