October 9 (tomorrow) marks World Postal Day, and Sri Lanka is gearing up to celebrate the 149th Postal Day with various events, including the release of a new stamp and a philatelic exhibition. The ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, on October 10, at the Boyagane Army Camp in Kurunegala, with the distinguished presence of North West Province Governor, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena.
During this ceremony, commendations will be extended to exceptional postal workers for their dedicated service, as well as schoolchildren who have excelled at the school-level competitions, with prizes awarded accordingly.
Nuwara Eliya Post Office
Additionally, recognition will be given to 45 post and sub-post offices that have generated additional income through new projects for the Postal Department. Likewise, 20 officials who have made significant contributions to the Department’s special initiatives will be honoured.
The Sri Lanka Postal Department, organised into 82 different divisions, has expanded beyond its traditional role of mail distribution by embracing various new online services. These initiatives aim to transform the Postal Department into a financially self-sustaining institution.
Currently, the Postal Department receives annual funding of Rs.7,000 million from the Treasury to prevent substantial losses and maintain essential services, such as providing pensions and cancer treatment benefits as welfare services.
However, the Department has faced mounting challenges due to declining revenues from traditional functions and competition from local and international courier services.
To address these issues, a series of new projects have been initiated, guided by the directives of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Dr. Bandula Gunawardena.
Burdens
These projects aim to make the Department financially self-reliant without imposing additional burdens on the public. Notably, the introduction of Cash on Delivery (COD) services has improved the reliability of business transactions made via the Department’s islandwide courier services.
Its overseas EMS (Express Mail Service) is also very popular as it is much less expensive than international courier services.
Despite being the fourth-largest employer in the State sector, the Postal Department’s revenue falls far short of covering employee salaries, maintenance costs, and service expenses.
Consequently, the Treasury’s provision of funds has been temporarily halted until systemic changes are implemented to ensure the Department operates without incurring further losses.
To meet this year’s challenge of earning a target income of Rs 12,000 million, substantial progress, amounting to 71 percent of the goal, had been achieved by August 31.
The primary objective is to make the Department of Posts financially independent of the Treasury by 2025, a goal for which a solid foundation has been laid, requiring dedication from all Department personnel, from postmasters to mail delivery personnel.
Efforts have been made to diversify income sources, aside from stamp duty, by leveraging the Department’s human and physical resources.
A digital transformation is also underway, with ambitions to establish a world-class postal service in Sri Lanka.
In line with global postal classifications, the Sri Lankan postal service currently holds a Silver rating, while countries such as the United States, Japan, and Australia enjoy a Gold rating. Sri Lanka is actively working to attain a Gold rating, addressing deficiencies in modern equipment, including computer and IT technology.
To rectify the equipment gap, the Department has procured computers and accessories worth Rs. 290 million distributed to 1,000 post offices in collaboration with the Union Postal Union (UPU) to launch a smart postal service.
Despite approximately 2,700 vacancies existing within the Department, technology is being prioritised over hiring more personnel to increase efficiency. Efforts have also been made to curb excessive overtime payments.
Appointments
The Department has addressed issues related to appointments, with 485 new appointments approved by the Cabinet, thus resolving problems stemming from previous recruitment hindrances.
In a bid to enhance postal services, brand new motorbikes will be provided to postal workers, and a smart three-wheeler service for special packages, utilising custom-built three-wheelers, will be introduced. Postal couriers will also receive official uniforms.
While railways and buses continue to play a significant role in mail transport, systematic projects are underway to expedite deliveries while maintaining quality. Collaboration with the public and private sectors is however crucial to support these ambitious projects.
The Postal Department’s mission is to modernise revenue generation while preserving its core function of distributing letters. To this end, proper promotions and a service constitution, addressing trade union demands, have been enacted, considering the views of trade unions.
Additionally, the Postal Ordinance, dating back to 1908, with no further revisions since 1952, is being amended to align with modern requirements. The Department also manages tourist bungalows in Nuwara Eliya, Sigiriya, and Anuradhapura, with significant maintenance work, especially in the Anuradhapura bungalow. Some of the post offices, such as the one in Nuwara Eliya, have become tourist attractions in their own right.
It is important to remember that all these initiatives are undertaken with the public’s best interests in mind.
Translated by Jonathan Frank
