Post Ministry annual loss Rs 2,000 m

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

The Post and Telecommunication Ministry has posted an annual loss of about Rs 2,000 million which has become a burden to the Treasury, Ministry statistics revealed.

A comprehensive study is being undertaken by a high powered Task Force to ascertain the reasons for the massive losses, Post and Telecommunication Minister Jeewan Kumaratunga said.

The Task Force comprises officials who have a broad knowledge in the post and telecommunication sector and Postal Department trade union representatives. The members are analysing the situation and will suggest remedies to cut down losses. The final report is to be issued in few months.

In accordance with the outcome of the study, several measures will be taken to convert the Post and Telecommunication Ministry into a money spinning entity within the next five years, Kumaratunga said.

The Ministry administration will also be regulated doing away with unnecessary expenditure. New and profitable business ventures will be identified and introduced while putting an end to fraud and corruption. The Ministry will also make changes to increase workforce output, the Minister said. The Postal Department foreign mail branch will be shifted to Katunayake in the near future from where mail can be sent and received from the Bandaranaike International Airport, Minister Kumaratunga said.

“There should be radical changes in the Post and Telecommunication Ministry so that it would be converted into a profitable venture,” Kumaratunga said.