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Regional postal meeting enveloped in fund row
View(s):The loss-making Postal Department has decided to make use of funds meant for the postal network improvement project to host a regional gathering. The decision has been taken after the Cabinet turned down a request for funds to host the executive committee meeting of the Asia-Pacific Postal Union from September 15 to 19. Some 100 delegates are expected to attend the event.
The Postmaster General has directed the officials to go ahead with the planning of the event and told them to use Rs. 20 million from the postal network improvement project under which computer software for the department is to be developed.
PMG Rohana Abeyratne declined to comment. Postal Services Minister Jeewan Kumaratunga said the Cabinet had rejected the request for the allocation, but the department was assured that the Treasury would reimburse the funds spent. However, postal trade unions said the department had already planned to cut down on the expenditure on the network development project and spend the money on the event. “We have doubts that the money will be reimbursed,” a trade union official said.