Postal services declared an essential service

Postal services have been declared  an essential through a gazette notification, Minister of Posts Bandula Gunawardena said.

The Gazette notification has been issued on the instructions of  President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

"I have signed the document with regard to issuing a gazette notification making posts an essential service," the Minister said earlier.

Postal workers all over the country have launched a 48 hour strike since midnight against handing over the colonial Nuwara Eliya post office building to an Indian hospitality giant to be converted to a luxury hotel. Locals and tourists have joined in protest of the decision, with foreign tourists seen holding placards in front of Nuwara Eliya post office.  

"The Department of Posts has been a loss making state institution for many years. I have assured that none of the post offices in the country will be closed. This post office will be shifted to a modern building . The Postal Department cannot bear the cost of maintainance of this old building. Once postal services is made essential, action will be taken against those who violate the law," the Minister told the media.