Speedy action to streamline postal and telecom services -
minister
Dharma Sri Abeyratne
Speedy action has to be taken to streamline postal and
telecommunication services so as to avoid their downfall, Posts and
Telecommunication Minister Jeewan Kumarathunaga said.
Remedial action should be taken promptly to save the postal service
from a natural death while ensuring a trusted service to the public.
The postal service have to go with the the latest technology, which
have been widely used in the post and telecommunication sector in the
world, Minister Kumaratunga said.
The minister was addressing staffers leaving for an Indian training
at the ministry auditorium yesterday. Representing all divisions of the
postal department, 25 staffers have been selected for the five day
Indian study tour.
The participants will be able to obtain first hand experience in the
Indian postal service, which is believed to be more efficient and
effective in the region.
Minister Kumarathunga further said the ministry has to be converted
into people-friendly and profit earning institution. The exposure and
experiences gained from the Indian tour can be utilised for the progress
of the postal service. Therefore, ideas and positive criticisms of the
participants will be highly accepted, the minister said.
"The Postal Department will be subjected to radical changes so as to
convert it into a profitable venture within a short period. Otherwise no
one can protect the Postal Department from dilapidation", the minister
noted.
The Postal Department introduced five new services aiming to meet the
present day requirements of customers to create a people friendly postal
service. Under this, customers will be able to get varied services from
post offices, he added.
At the final stage all main post offices and sub post offices will be
linked to the network using around 1,200 computers. Bill payment
activities, internet related facilities such as sending and receiving
E-mails, e-buying, e-channelling, browsing internet are among the
services. |
