Motor bicycles to bolster postal delivery system

COLOMBO: The postal delivery system in the remote villages will be streamlined with the provision of free bicycles to postmen before the end of this year, said Foreign Employment Promotion Minister and Posts and Telecommunications Deputy Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena.

The Minister who was speaking at a seminar at his Ministry said letter delivery in distant villages has been disrupted mostly due to poor maintenance of bicycles used by the postmen. At present bicycles used by postmen are government property and an annual allowance of Rs. 100 was paid by the Government for the maintenance of each bicycle which was inadequate to keep them in roadworthy condition.

It is for this reason that letter delivery is getting delayed in the remote villages. Under the Mahinda Chintana programme of providing a streamlined postal service to the people all postmen will be provided with brand new bicycles free of charge to enable them to perform their duties more efficiently.