Government undermining postal service, says Opposition

9 February 2026 08:18 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 18 Bookmark

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Colombo, Feb. 9 (Daily Mirror) - The recent increase in postal rates could lead to the eventual collapse of Sri Lanka’s postal services, the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) warned today.

SJB MP Mujibur Rahman said the government’s decision to raise the minimum postal rate from Rs. 50 to Rs. 70 signals an intention to gradually dismantle the country’s postal system and eventually discontinue the Department of Posts.

“The government should have reduced postal rates to safeguard jobs in the Postal Department and ensure the survival of the service. Instead, this rate hike may accelerate the decline of the postal system,” Rahman said.

He added that higher postal charges would further push the public toward digital alternatives such as SMS, MMS and WhatsApp, hastening the erosion of the traditional postal services.

Comments - 18

Bappi Lahiri Monday, 09 February 2026 09:05 PM

You people talk about postal services, yet you have done nothing about the collapsing heritage post office building in Galle Fort. It already collapsed before the new government, you were watching. Shame on you, this speaks volumes about your cowardly practices and your very existence in politics.

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Jude Fernando Monday, 09 February 2026 09:44 PM

This bloke has a wonderful "tikiri molae"

1 23

Absurd economist Monday, 09 February 2026 11:41 PM

This loud mouth has something to say even if it rains or there is sun. It is not that higher postal charges would further push the public toward digital alternatives such as SMS, MMS and WhatsApp, but moving that way is the order of the day everywhere in the world. If the govt reduced postal rates this joker will find fault and say govt wants to show a loss and close the service.

1 29

SAM Tuesday, 10 February 2026 01:25 AM

This " Jack in the box" was quiet for sometime. Just comments to make himself relevant. Just retire and go home.

0 8

Ram P Tuesday, 10 February 2026 04:09 AM

Since of late Mujibur has started to comment on issues without any merit. Postal has lost some parts of its business, to name a few, telegrams, letters, parcels etc that have been taken over by WhatsApp, email and private couriers. But still the postal must keep their venues open. Then some increase in the rates become necessary. Where was Mujibur when the past governments increased the postal rates in the past

0 7

Nihal S Tuesday, 10 February 2026 04:38 AM

Mujibar, use your brain before you open your mouth. Every time you open your mouth without proper thoughts, SJB lose voter base because we are worried about your skills to govern the country.

1 10

DISGUSTED CITIZEN Tuesday, 10 February 2026 10:46 AM

ABSOLUTELY SPOT ON

0 0

W Jayasinghe Tuesday, 10 February 2026 11:31 AM

How can he use his brain when he doesn’t have one.

0 0

thiagarajah Tuesday, 10 February 2026 05:07 AM

this man is a curse to this country

0 9

Juanis Perera Tuesday, 10 February 2026 05:28 AM

As per his comment, postal services are required only to provide jobs?

0 9

If I don't say something, people will forget me. Tuesday, 10 February 2026 07:27 AM

I have to say what I am told to say. The party gave me a seat in parliament only to do that. So, I am doing my job. Otherwise I will have no job!

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Krish Tuesday, 10 February 2026 07:59 AM

Aren't you supposed the be the right wing faction? How about dismantling postal department and make it an enterprise. That's what you should be campaigning for. It'll provide a better service and reduce the stress on the government. But no. You lot have not principles. Just going around trying collect votes by appealing to different factions.

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Priyan66 Tuesday, 10 February 2026 08:00 AM

Do you want to maintain overstaffed, corrupt, inefficient postal worker on our tax money. Let them to earn

0 9

joshua Tuesday, 10 February 2026 08:33 AM

Shows how useless the opposition is.... Just blabbering something every day. These morons create trouble in every sector, create strikes and the people only suffer. People should ensure that these opposition members are forever in opposition.

1 9

Lost Bum Tuesday, 10 February 2026 08:57 AM

How about your leader handing over the post office in Nuwara Eliya as if it were his personal asset? Weren’t you all in a selling spree back then, trying to make a quick buck? Just bugger off!

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DMObserver Tuesday, 10 February 2026 09:56 AM

There are many instances where various documents still have to be sent to others in paper format. Even online orders have to be delivered physically. The postal service is doing quite a lot of business in these sectors, competing with courier companies. However, the increase in rates, especially for parcels, will be detrimental to the postal service as their rates are now higher than courier company rates. Competition is good but pricing one's institution out of the competition smacks of foolishness or an ulterior motive.

0 0

Patriot Tuesday, 10 February 2026 10:22 AM

Sign of the times. For the present day 'opposition', their priority seems to be finding anything to blame the government, even if the sun did not rise one day !

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MAJORITY SUFFERED LIKE NO OTHER TIME IN OUR HISTORY. Tuesday, 10 February 2026 11:02 PM

WIPE OUT ALL THE OLD CORRUPT POLITICIANS AS THERE ARE MORE NEST FEATHERERS THAN HONEST POLITICIANS AND REPLACE THE CORRUPT WITH YOUNG HONEST PEOPLE WHO WILL BE COMMITTED TO WORKING FOR THE COUNTRY AND ALL ITS PEOPLE IF THE COUNTRY AND ALL ITS PEOPLE, WHICH INCLUDES THE MILLIONS THAT SUFFERED LIKE NO OTHER TIME IN OUR HISTORY.

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