The newly renovated Homagama Class One Post Office, equipped with Expedited Mail Service (EMS) Centre and Cash on Delivery (COD) Centre, was opened yesterday by Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana.
Accordingly, the people will have the facility of availing many latest services through the upgraded Homagama New Post Office, including the delivery of letters and parcels to any place in Sri Lanka, at a minimum fee, charging only for the weight of the product, providing more facilities for the people engaged in online businesses, and providing facility to deliver goods with a value of up to Rs.100,000 according to modern technical methods.
After opening the post office complex with the blessings of the Maha Sangha, the Minister opened the Cash on Delivery Centre counter.
“A large number of institutions operating under my Ministry are running public services by providing solutions to the problems faced by the employees on a daily basis amidst many challenges. The employees should also work concerning the current economic crisis, regardless of their party politics, race and religion. We need to deal with the huge economic crisis in the country. No politician can prepare any future plan for the country as long as they do not accept the absolute truth about the country’s expenses.
“Salaries should be paid to the government servants and pensioners whatever government comes to power. Subsidies should be given to those with low incomes. The Sri Lanka Transport Board provides a subsidy of Rs. 20 billion for school students on behalf of their monthly season tickets. But only Rs. 20 billion has been allocated as capital expenditure for all road development projects in the country due to the lack of sufficient funds.
“All the governments in the past have taken loans both domestically and abroad and an interest has to be paid for it. The Government does not have enough income for these expenses. All the political leaders who claim power should make it clear to the people that they cannot run the country without borrowing. If the people are not given proper understanding of this situation, there may be a situation where the country will fall into terror and violence again.
“Our attention is constantly drawn to the problems faced by the employees of the Postal Department. Finding solutions to existing problems is not an easy task and needs some time.
“The third tranche of the International Monetary Fund has been approved by overcoming many big challenges. If we have not received this, no other institution or country will give us a loan this way. Then, letters of credit issued by our country will not accepted by any other country. The prevailing exchange rate may rise significantly within a day or two. Fuel and gas cannot be imported. There should be discussions and debates about this situation with numerical data,” the Minister said.
Irangika Range
