News
Postal strike continues to stamp its disruption on public services
Thousands of mail items piled up as the public continued to face difficulties with the ongoing postal strike.
The Puttalam Divisional Secretariat doing the work of a post office by paying poor senior citizens their monthly allowance. Pix by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe
The postal trade unions have promised to report to work only after the National Salaries & Cadre Commission (NSCC) approves the new salary scheme.
The Minister of Post and Postal Services and Muslim Religious Affairs, M.H.Abdul Haleem told the Sunday Times that the NSCC will review the new salary scheme prepared for the postal department and grant approval next week. Once approved, the papers will be submitted to Cabinet for further approval, following which the scheme can be implemented.
“At present, the trade unions are on strike to pressure the authorities into implementing the salary scheme immediately,” he said.
According to Minister Haleem, the grievances of the postal trade unions are a sequel to the amendments made to Circular 6/2006 on a previous occasion, pertaining to salaries of all government departments, while the delay was due to the NSCC’s unwillingness to approve the new salary, as it would affect six other sectors.
“However, after discussions, the NSCC decided to approve the scheme,” he said.
Due to the postal strike, the Ministry of Education has extended the closing date for Grade 1 applications from June 30 to July 10
“Although the postal strike does not affect the forthcoming Advanced Level Exams, the Exams Dept said that 325 other exams in the coming months, related to recruitment, promotion and certification, will have to be postponed if the strike continues,” said Commissioner General of Exams, B. Sanath Pujitha.
Meanwhile, the postal strike has also disrupted court activities. As a result of which court hearings are further extended, court orders are delayed and summons are not delivered on time.
Sources from the Colombo Magistrates’ Court revealed they cannot send or receive mail due to the postal strike and the backlog is more than usual.
“Fiscals are only able to hand over Summons in areas in close proximity and, at present, Summons usually sent via registered post have been piling up,” sources said.
The postal strike has resulted in a pile up of mail at the Airport. SriLankan Airlines told the Sunday Times that, at present, the backlog is 25 tons of around 2,614 mail packages, including Express Mail Service (EMS).
The official stated the backlog can be cleared subject to availability of GPO vehicles and manpower. They would require about 25 lorries, with 20 lorries for general mail and 5 for EMS.
“Work in the Dept will cease as the procedure for a National Identification Card (NIC) has made stamps a mandatory requirement,” said Commissioner of Operations at the Dept of Registration of Persons, Harsha Ilukpitiya.
Long lines, never ending chaos
Mr Ilukpitiya stated that currently the Dept is unable to mail the processed NIC. The 1-day service to issue NICs, has also been discontinued due to the unavailability of stamps.
Registrar General Neil de Alwis told the Sunday Times that, although communication via post is limited, there has been a delay in receiving and sending mail in their Dept.
According to him in the case of emergencies they send the mail through speed post and will continue to do so until matters are settled.
“Functions of the Accounts Branch in the Colombo Divisional Secretariat (DS) has been paralysed,” said its Secretary D P Wickramasinghe.
The postal strike has added an extra responsibility on DS officials, where they have to receive payments of traffic fines.
“These long lines of traffic offenders coming to pay their fines, start from morning, because we are surrounded by almost 20 police stations,” he said.
He said the backlog of work will have to be cleared by working extra hours or working during weekends, once the situation returns to normal.
According to him, they have stopped receiving official letters, letters of requests and letters regarding registrations due to the strike, and expect a large workload to attend to, once the strike is settled.
Kalutara Divisional Secretariat said they have had to personally distribute letters or fax them.
“This added responsibility delays the normal work,” the official said.
Meanwhile, media reports from Oman state that Oman Post has announced it will temporarily stop receiving any mail to Sri Lanka, as Sri Lanka Post will not be accepting any international mail until further notice.