Central Mail Exchange innovation:

CCTV panel as ironing board

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

The Close-Circuit Television system (CCTV) at the Central Mail Exchange Complex, Colombo has been out of order for a long period as a result of alleged vandalism by certain employees.

The CCTV system was installed at the Central Mail Exchange Complex several years ago to monitor the entire complex. Before the CCTV system was established there were allegations that some valuables sent by mail, especially by air-mail went missing. Considering these issues the then authorities of the Postal Department had established the CCTV system at a considerable cost.

The entire complex including mail sorting activities were monitored by the CCTV system, a Postal Department source who wished to remain anonymous said.

The source said eventhough the CCTV system has been out of order for a long period, no arrangements have been made to repair it.

The CCTV system has been put aside gathering dust. The table on which the control panel was installed, is used for ironing clothes, he said.

A Postal Department official contacted by the Daily News said on the advice of Postmaster General M. K. B. Dissanayake moves will be taken to rectify the CCTV system with immediate effect. Postal Department officers have contacted the Universal Postal Union seeking assistance to rectify the CCTV system. Following the request, the Universal Postal Union has expressed willingness to allocate Rs 6 million to repair it, the official said.