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| Thursday, 22 July 2004 |
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Streamlining the Postal service : Dept. to recruit 1500 workers by Shirajiv Sirimane The Department of Posts will recruit 2100 postal servants including postmen and officers of other cadres to streamline the services by the end of this year, said the Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Udarata Development D.M.Jayaratne. "There are over 2100 vacancies of various cadres to be filled in the postal department, and steps will be taken to fill these vacancies during this year" he said. The Postal Department will build a new office complex to house its three branch offices which are now housed at private buildings at a monthly rent of Rs.2 million. Speaking at a Press conference at Hotel Ceylon Continental Minister Jayaratne said that the department has already identified a land in Battaramulla to construct the proposed building. "We are hoping to commence construction this year and all the departments would be shifted to the new premises," he said. The Minister said that the Postal Department had been neglected for a long period and there is a dearth of staff. A postman who was earlier to deliver postal matters to 50 households now delivering them to 250 households. This has caused an unwanted delay in delivering mail. He said this would help reduce the pilfering of mail, which is happening, especially with the handling of foreign mail.In addition to the postmen the department will appoint 611 officers to handle this area. The employees have been requesting the government for a distress loan for a long period and this has never been looked into. "I do not see any reason as to why the Treasury can not give a loan to a government servant since public servants of other departments enjoy it now. The Treasury has given approval to grant Rs.300 million for this purpose," he said. Over 250 retired sub post-masters have not been paid pension since 1994. Steps are under way to pay their pension from this year. The Minister also said that plans are being made to open 23 Post offices in the needy areas by end of the year. The Ministry would also permit private institutions to open sub post offices especially in rural areas. |
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