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Over 1,500 sacks of airmail stuck at BIA

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16 June 2018 06:05 pm - 18     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Over 1,500 airmail sacks had piled up at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) due to the ongoing postal work stoppage, a spokesman from SriLankan Imports said yesterday.

The strike launched by postal employees entered its sixth today, disrupting all postal related services.

Accordingly, mail sacks were also seen piled up at the Central Mail Exchange (CME) as mail collection and distribution islandwide has come to a standstill as a result of the strike action.

The strike had resulted in an average daily loss of Rs 150 million in revenue to the Postal Department according to Post Master General Rohana Abeyratne.

Other than mail collection and distribution, postal services such as pension payments, examination payments and spot fine payments has also been totally disrupted following the strike causing severe inconvenience to the public.

Postal trade unions stated that the Government should take the responsibility for the inconvenience caused to the public and the loss to the department as a result of the work stoppage.

United Postal Trade Unions Front (UPTUF) convener Chinthaka Bandara said that the ongoing strike will continue if the Public Administration Minister failed to produce the Cabinet paper as promised at the next Cabinet meeting scheduled to be held on Tuesday (19).

General Secretary Post and Telecommunication Officers’ Union H.K. Kariyawasam said that although the losses were mounting day by day, the authorities had not even tried to resolve their issues and help end the strike.

Postal services were at a standstill since Monday (11) due to the joint trade union action launched with the support over 23,000 employees belong to 24 Postal Services unions, including officers. Services at 653 island-wide post offices, 3,410 sub-post offices and 100 control officers had been disrupted as a result of the trade union action. (Thilanka Kanakarathna)


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  Comments - 18

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  • Unchikun Saturday, 16 June 2018 06:15 PM

    Yes, the government should take responsibility for increasing the salary of these inefficient workers by Rs10,000. The government is also responsible for not privatizing these mismanaged state institutions. Forget elections and outsource these services to the private sector and cut the staff by 90%.

    Ajja93 Saturday, 16 June 2018 06:31 PM

    Our Postal department is not match to modern world. make it PPP or privatize. Pls do not try to use public money to restore it as most of the people do not use postal service now

    observer Sunday, 17 June 2018 02:40 AM

    Most of the poor people solely depend on postal service unlike people like you !.

    Rufus Norton Saturday, 16 June 2018 06:48 PM

    The Minister concerned must be taken to task. There is no use of blaming the unions. They have a reason to launch strike action, but the Minister must be capable of settling the problem instead of sitting in his A/C office with his arms folded. The Department and country lose millions due to the inefficiency of a Minister, but he is not made accountable. His slate is wiped clean and he simply shrugs his cares away while the public pays for his incapability.

    Sumith Saturday, 16 June 2018 07:14 PM

    Get Tri forces help to clear the backlog and take disciplinary action against the workers. Everywhere there are strikes causing severe inconvenience to public and losses to Country. Should act as JR.

    Gobbaya Saturday, 16 June 2018 07:23 PM

    Sack everyone...sell the assets..bloody white elephant....

    observer Sunday, 17 June 2018 02:48 AM

    After selling all the assets are you going to deliver all the mail ?

    Gratiaen Saturday, 16 June 2018 07:40 PM

    We are badly inconvenienced, It is the 6th day for this Strike! Authorities seem to have not taken effective steps to sort out this issue. I think it is high time the Prez of the country intervene and sort out this issue pronto!

    Dee Saturday, 16 June 2018 08:12 PM

    A good lesson for us not to even offer a odd job to the offspring of these useless govt. Servants. Just sack them and privatise . Everything.

    Terbie Saturday, 16 June 2018 10:49 PM

    During Chandrika Government, Managala as Post and Telecom Minister, the Telecom services were improved by creating SLT with Japanese Management and private landline services of Suntel and Lanka Bell. Similarly, Postal Services were to be improved similar to Australian Standards which is the world's best postal services. Postal Codes for each Post Offices were introduced and automation was in the pipeline. The strikers spoilt everything

    Ruwan Saturday, 16 June 2018 10:50 PM

    Postal service will soon be defunct. New technology will soon take over its functions. As such postal department should now be down sized and make way to modernize it.

    observer Sunday, 17 June 2018 02:43 AM

    Could you please be more specific how the new technology will take over.

    Rajitha Monday, 18 June 2018 07:41 AM

    I have ordered some parts for my vehicle on eBay and thanks to postal strike my stuff is stuck at the mail exchange. Postal service is not only about delivering mail. Delivery of goods plays an important role in daily public life

    Ajith Sunday, 17 June 2018 05:15 AM

    Pay pension direct to the account of holders. No letter\s emails. What ever left privatise to courier company.

    Post card Sunday, 17 June 2018 07:47 AM

    Request the army to clear the mails.

    George Monday, 18 June 2018 12:04 AM

    Sack the fellow who pulled the initial stunt...and privatise.... Soon. Shows very clearly that the government cant run the postal service. 6 days... Tell us one country like this.

    Gamarala Monday, 18 June 2018 03:20 AM

    The government needs to get out of the postal mail services business and sell it off to a private contractor. Its not like the old days, people do not depend solely on snail mail for their buinesses, most have access to computers and mobile phones. The overseas mail could be handled by a private organization. The Ceylon Postal system is archaic and needs to be privatized. Its a real "white elephant" for the government.

    Dot Monday, 18 June 2018 03:40 AM

    Postal workers in places like UK , Canada and Australia are valued for .the diligence and professional quality of the work . ..they are trained and paid good wages for they are the point of reference to prevent scams and crimes ..the mail sorting office ...Interesting to know how the work of the workers in the mailing office is valued by the Minister .


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