Postal Strike Causes Rs. 120 Million Loss As Army Buses Used To Distribute Mail Amid Ongoing Protest

COLOMBO(News 1st); Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara stated that the mail items accumulated at the Central Postal Exchange have been transported to various areas using army buses.

He said these letters and parcels were redirected to postal terminals.

The ongoing strike, which began last Monday, is based on 19 demands, including concerns about overtime allowances and the use of fingerprint machines for recording attendance.

The strike is supported by several unions: the United Postal Workers Union, Sri Lanka Nidahas Postal and Telecommunication Workers Union, United Postal and Telecommunication Services Union, Sri Lanka Nidahas Postal Services Union, and the Sri Lanka Postal Workers Front.

A continuous satyagraha protest also began yesterday in front of the Central Postal Exchange in Colombo.

Out of the 653 post offices across the country, only 169 were open yesterday. However, all 3,211 sub-post offices remained open.

Meanwhile, Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni said that except for two of the postal workers’ demands, the rest can be addressed through negotiations.

The Postal Department reported that the strike by several postal trade unions has so far caused a financial loss of between Rs. 100 million and Rs. 120 million.