Printed Matters(International)
Printed Matters(International)
  • Newspapers and periodicals, books, pamphlets, name cards and address cards, etc., manuscripts and their printing plates with or without printing plates, engravings, photographs and albums containing them, pictures, plans, maps and their necessary paper designs, printed or engraved or endorsed price lists, advertisements, brochures, notices, etc. are generally considered to be Printed Matters.
  • When sending copies of a manuscript or a typed copy thereof as printed matter, at least 20 identical copies of the same should be sent in packets.
  • These postal articles can be and inspected at the post office at any time
  • Can be sent by air mail as well as sea mail
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Size and Weight Limits
    • Maximum size limits are,

Maximum length + width + Height                :900mm
Maximum length on the longest side              :610mm

If in roll form,
Maximum length + (diameter × 2)                  : 1037 mm
Maximum length on the longest side              : 889 mm

    • The minimum size limit is,

Minimum length                                              : 140 mm
Minimum width                                              : 90 mm

In the case of a long, square, strong cardboard product, the minimum size limit is,
The sum of the lengths of two adjacent sides            : 160 mm
The length of the minimum long side             : 40 mm

  • Maximum Weight 2kg
Unpaid or underpaid printed matters
  • In the case of unpaid or underpaid Printed Matters, the sender will be contacted and the rectification will be made. However, if there is a delay in contacting the sender, the following actions will be taken regarding Printed Matters submitted for sending by air mail.
    • If the air mail fee has not been paid, the item will be sent by sea mail, and a fee of double the sea mail fee will be charged to the addressee.
    • If part of the air mail fee has been paid and the fees so paid are not less than 75% of the air mail fee, the item will be sent by sea mail, and a fee of double the air mail fee will be charged to the addressee.
    • Where a part of the air mail rate has been paid and the rate so paid is less than 75% of the rate, the item will be sent by sea mail, and a rate of double the shortfall in the sea mail rate will be charged to the addressee.
  • The minimum surcharge on Unpaid or underpaid Articles charged in the above cases varies by country, and in Sri Lanka it is Rs. 160/-
  • For Printed Matters submitted for sea mail which cannot be rectified by the sender, a surcharge will be charged subject to the minimum postage charge or shortfall in the rate.
  • Printed Matter written in a secret language or altered after printing cannot be sent under this.
  • However, the following notes may be added by hand or by machine on the inside or outside of printed matters after printing.
    • Names and addresses of the sender and recipient, professions or positions, titles, date of sending, signature, telephone numbers, ‘reply’ notes, postal or bank account numbers, serial numbers, identification numbers, etc.
    • Corrections of printing errors
    • Arrival and departure times, dates, ports, etc. of aircraft or ships
    • Names of travellers, dates of travel, places of stay, etc.
    • Prices of books, etc., payment methods, etc.
    • Greetings, expressions of sympathy, etc. on cards
    • Special colors used in maps, etc., dedications of works of art, etc.
  • Printed Matters may be sent with a card or envelope or wrapping paper with the sender’s address written on it for return, and the postage stamps of the country of destination as a return postage.
  • Letters or notes in the form of personal documents belonging to the present day should not be included in printed matters.
  • They must be posted without an envelope or in an unsealed envelope or with a non-hazardous attachment pins that can be easily removed and reattached. Alternatively, these should be tied with an easily untied string or wrapped in an open envelope with one or both ends.
  • Printed Matters that take the form of a card by shape should be sent without a ribbon or envelope or any attachment, and without a cover. Papers that are folded in half so that they do not unfold may also be sent in this way.
  • These materials should always be arranged in such a way that other items cannot enter them.
  • Printed Matters should be clearly marked ‘Printed Matter’ in the upper left corner
  • Such items will not be forwarded due to reasons such as not being packaged openly, containing materials that cannot be sent in an open package, or exceeding size and/or weight limits.
  • These will be submitted to the RLO for return to the sender or, if the sender is not specified, for clearance.