Sri Lanka’s Postal Dept - matching world standards - Post Master General

Priyanka KURUGALA

Postal Department awards

* The 2011 world mail award in pursuit of excellence

* The public postal operator of Sri Lanka has attained quality management level c - valid until June 23, 2013

* e - pay automation system and selected country's best e - content applications in the category e - government institutions

* Certificate of appreciation in the competition on best government open source productivity tools and applications in the category of open source software application development - ICTA

* Certificate of appreciation in the competition on best government open source productivity tools and applications in the category of open source software application development - ICTA

* Best government open source productivity tools and applications category open source software - 2011.

* Certificate of merit awarded to Sri Lanka Post for documentary category in Suhada Sandeshakaru 2011

The Sri Lanka Postal Department made much progress during past four years. Now the Department is ready to extend its services to match international levels. Certain corrupt activities which had been occurring in the Postal Department have been eliminated following the introduction of the new system. Therefore, the Postal Department will embark on a very successful rapid journey to achieve its targets. The Sri Lanka Postal Department was able to win eight international awards for its services. These victories are a testimony to the country’s rapid progress.

The Daily News spoke to Post Master General M. K. B. Dissanayake on the new developments and programmes introdued by the Department to modernize the postal sector.

Q: What will be the changes in the Department, after introducing new technology to the sector?

A: The most important aspect is developing the attitudes of workers to adapt to the new system. During past years the country has benefited from new technology to achieve many development targets in various sectors. However, the Postal Department has been unable to apply this new technology for a long time to provide an efficient service. Therefore many accusations have been leveled at the Department about the delay in delivery of letters, money orders, shortcomings in other areas and negligence of customers.

Providing many solutions to these problems and offering a quality service to the public under the new management, the Postal Department has introduced an e-money order system. Through these new methods the Postal Department has taken giant steps to ensure a speedy and quality service.

Q: What are the other areas you have concentrated on to develop the Postal Department to go global?

A: There are 647 main post offices and around 3,500 sub post offices throughout the country with seven estate post offices. We have introduced this money order system to all our main branches throughout the country. We have introduced the e-money order system. According to our statistics the Department has over 20,000 employees and 176 vehicles.

A number of programmes have been designed under the guidance of the new authority to make the Department more efficient and increase profits.

Q: What are the new innovations of the Department?

A: As the first and fundamental step we have commenced a programme to uplift the education levels of workers. During this current year we got an opportunity to get seven scholarships from foreign universities.

Earlier, there were only a limited number of masters degree holders in the Department. Therefore, we are encouraging workers to enhance and develop their education standards. On the other hand we have commenced relevant programmes to improve their attitudes in a positive way. We have organized Sharamadana campaigns to utilize their labour for the Department. Through these methods we are planning to give a new look to the Postal Department.

Q: What are the other areas you have planned to develop under your supervision?

A: There are 25 services provided by the Postal Department over a long period of time. Now the department is developing these services into an advanced state utilizing and introducing modern technology. Normal post, EMS- Express Mail System, Electronic Money Order, Register post, Currency exchange system, Telemail, Postal ID, Exam Fee Payment, communication centre, our express, banking services, parcel post, insured post, Free Services for blind, Insurance Services, Philatelic(stamp and services related to stamp), pre-paid, social services, international post, electricity bills payment, international coupon sales, Credit card payments and Speed Post Sri Lanka are these services. The postal department is well on the way to modernization.

Q: Sri Lanka Postal Department was able to win several international awards during the recent past. What are these victories?

A: Actually, Sri Lanka Post has a history which dates back to more than two centuries.

Even though the Department could not win any international awards in the past, the department since of late has won eight awards. This has encouraged us to take many steps.

The 2011 World Mail Award in pursuit of excellence Retail Award-Highly commended, best government open sources productivity tools and applications- Category Open Source Software and Certificate of merit awarded to Sri Lanka post for documentary category in Suhada Sandeshakaru at the SIGN and salutation 2011 are some of them.

Q: What are the other programmes you have introduced to improve the Postal Department ?

A: To make our duties transparent, we have introduced a systematic administration and operation method for purchasing.

Apart from that the Department has gained international recognition for many of its services. A few years ago, Sri Lanka was not allowed to participate in International Postal Conferences.

The reason was the low quality services of the department. However, now the country is receiving many opportunities to participate in international postal conferences.

Sri Lanka now stands at 73rd position in EMS services (Express Message Services) among 193 other countries in the world. Sri Lanka was previously placed at 183 position.