STATE SECTOR
REFORM OUR POSTAL SERVICES!
Janaka Perera bemoans the sorry plight of Sri Lanka’s postal services
As in most state institutions, politics has been the bane of the postal department. This wasn’t a major problem until the 1970s, when the service began to deteriorate gradually, mainly due to politicised trade unions.
The situation is demonstrably far worse today.
For one, postal workers have suffered due to injustices and short-sighted decision making. Despite having to work with minimal facilities, they have been lagging behind in terms of remuneration, recruitment and promotions.
That’s why postal trade unions launched strike action recently, claiming that the government has yet to respond to a host of demands they made to improve the quality and efficiency of the postal service.
They have also opposed the overtime payment guidelines issued by the Director General of Institutions based on Public Administration Circular No. 10/2025, which stipulates overtime procedures and mandatory fingerprint based attendance tracking for officers, in all administrative and accounting offices of the department.
Critics believe that political influence has permeated Sri Lanka’s postal services and depoliticising the department is essential. Postal workers have also been up in arms against Public Administration Circular No. 10/2006, which introduced a new recruitment grade for postmasters and another one for minor staff.
This created a delay in promotions and payment of salary increments, effectively slashing workers’ wages. While the circular has remained in place for 20 years, workers have demanded the abolition of this system to compensate for the rising cost of living
Meanwhile, the government has allocated Rs. 600 million to renovate 200 historic post offices nationwide.
In the last days of British colonialism, there was no politics as such in the department under the ethos that prevailed at the time. Sri Lanka has since then come a long way from even the halcyon days of the immediate post-independence years, when the postal department had a fleet of motorcycles to deliver telegrams.
They may not be needed because of mobile phones today, though not everyone (especially among older generations in the rural areas) have mobile phones.
Many postal workers work under difficult conditions, particularly those deployed in distant provinces. A dearth in the number of postal employees became evident when recruitment was stalled in 2016.
Postal employees also complain about transfers being made without adherence to proper criteria. Another grouse is with regard to Grade 1 officers being deprived of salary increments and allowances such as overtime being unfairly discontinued.
According to the postmaster general, the maximum possible allowances have been granted for overtime in all administrative and accounting offices. He notes that fingerprint based attendance for regular duties is now mandatory but postal unions oppose this new rule.
Despite these shortcomings, postal workers need to adjust to modern times.
Sri Lanka is slowly replacing manual registers with fingerprint systems to mark attendance in line with the broader aspirations of national services digitalisation. The world has already shifted towards facial recognition and other sophisticated mechanisms to record attendance.
Why can’t our postal department provide services such as issuing passports and help renew documents as is done in Australia, where they’re delivered after online processing?
Meanwhile, the postal authorities are anticipating the following changes:
Provision of an efficient and reliable service in tandem with all stakeholders, in line with environmental and social conditions, and increased revenue.
Formulation and implementation of a strategic plan that is focussed on new technological markets, which advances the cause of the postal service in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
Promoting attitudinal changes for the provision of a dignified service, and updating intrinsic value systems of Sri Lanka Post as a flagship communications entity in the state sector.
Deploying disciplined staff who are empowered by continuous training and a system of methodical performance appraisals in a manner that consolidates public trust.
Transforming the post office network into a commercial centre that provides multipurpose services that will attract tourists and win public trust.
Establishing a viable technology based audit and investigation system that is acceptable to all.
Expanding the postal service to satisfy the needs of Sri Lankans living abroad.
Gaining a competitive advantage by reorganising the organisational structure and formulating relevant laws.
Encouraging the creative contribution of trade unions for the betterment of the institution and industrial peace.
Taking the Sri Lankan identity to the international arena by propagating the hobby of philately within the country and overseas.
