Equal access to telecom facilities, assures Minister

Lakmini RODRIGO

COLOMBO: People living in rural areas should have the same opportunity to access the Telecommunications facilities enjoyed by city dwellers, said Post and Telecommunication Minister D.M. Jayaratne.

Addressing a media conference at his Ministry in Colombo, the Minister said that steps have been taken to establish 500 sub post offices covering the rural sector and requests for new telephone connections would be expedited within 24 hours unlike in the past.

The Minister observed the difficulties faced by the public in getting new telephone connections in the past and assured that his ministry would urge the officers concerned would act promptly responding to requests from the public.

The media conference was held to inform journalists on the three months crash programme envisaged under the 'Mahinda Chinthanaya' to develop the post and telecommunication services in the country.

Explaining what the Ministry plans to do, Minister Jayaratne said the Postal Department would look in to the possibility of issuing passports making it more accessible to the public who have to travel to the district offices.

Referring to the disabled, the Minister said his Ministry intends to expand the computer training programme already in progress in the Anuradhapura District to cover other parts of the country.

It was also announced that plans are underway to issue 2.5 million phones (including CDMA) by the end of the year and that the Ministry expects to expand the programme to the North and East areas.