The acting government printer is an administrative officer attached to the media ministry.

Employees have objected to the non-appointment of a qualified person to the position, despite there being many qualified persons in the institution.

This position is considered the government’s adviser on printing matters and his opinion is given consideration as the expert view on legal matters.

According to the printing services act, qualification for this position is the professional training certificate from the London College of Printing or similar qualification.

At present, the institution has three persons with the required qualification, but the present acting government printer does not have that qualification.

It was only after 2012 that unqualified persons were appointed to the position in the institution formed in 1802.

The last qualified officer was Lalith de Silva, but the Rajapaksa regime considered him a friend of Mangala Samaraweera and refused to give him permanency.

Not only this position, but also the positions of four senior deputy government printers, two additional government printers and nine assistant government printers remain vacant for many years now.

Owing to the prevailing situation at the Government Press, the printing of postage stamps, examination papers and other confidential documents has to be handed over to the private sector.

Employees question as this is a move to privatize the institution.