DELAY IN POSTAL SERVICES

COLOMBO (News 1st): There is a delay with regard to the delivery of letters as postal trains are not operating at present and the difficulties in using SLTB buses for the delivery of letters, Sri Lanka Post said on Saturday (Jan. 02). Letters are currently being distributed by using vehicles at the Department of Posts and as a result of this the time taken to deliver a letter, would be delayed by about two days, Post-Master General Ranjith Ariyaratne told News 1st. Furthermore, since certain officers are undergoing quarantine and officers travelling outstation having to undergo quarantine as per the instructions by the health authorities have further created difficulties in the deployment of officers for services as required. About 1/3rd of the daily mail and parcels are transported by train, in the country; however, the five mail trains used for this purpose are not running at present. Delays in the delivery of letters are mostly reported in Colombo and suburbs, Post-Master General Ranjith Ariyaratne further added.