Modernised postal service soon

COLOMBO: The Posts and Telecommunications Ministry has decided to modernise the Postal Service and provide a better and speedier service to the public under a Japanese aid scheme.

This follows a resolution adopted by the Asia-Pacific Postal Union at a meeting held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia recently, said a press release issued by the Ministry.

The resolution said the Sri Lanka Postal Service should gain priority for development and modernisation over all other postal services in Asian Countries considering Sri Lanka's high literacy rate, enormity of the mail and the country's stable rate of economic development.

Following the resolution the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) agreed to provide the feasibility study for the modernisation and development programme.

A team of officials from Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation and Philippines Ravo International Corporation visited Sri Lanka and held discussions with Posts and Telecommunications Minister D. M. Jayaratne as a prelude to the preparation of the feasibility report.

Once the feasibility report is submitted the Ministry will give its rulings about the relevant proposals and the project will be implemented under the supervision of the World Postal union and assistance of the Asia-Pacific Postal Union.

The release said almost 90 per cent of the Postal Department's income is generated by 20 per cent of the Post offices which come under Grade One category. These post offices will be given better equipment and facilities during the modernisation programme.