Postal strike causes over Rs. 100 million loss

The ongoing postal strike has caused an estimated financial loss of between Rs. 100 million and Rs. 120 million, according to the Postal Department.

Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara said mail items piled up at the Central Postal Exchange have been transported to various areas using army buses and redirected to postal terminals for distribution.

The strike, which began last Monday over 19 demands—including overtime allowances and the use of fingerprint machines for attendance—is backed by several unions, including 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 653 post offices across the country, only 169 were operational yesterday, though all 3,211 sub-post offices remained open.