The Postal and Telecommunications Officers’ Union in Sri Lanka and the United Postal Trade Union Front have announced a continuous strike beginning at 4:00 pm tomorrow (17) at the Central Mail Exchange.
According to the Postmaster General, Ruwan Sathkumara, the strike will be extended to all postal and administrative offices across the country from midnight that same day.
This strike is being launched over 19 demands, with primary concerns on opposition to overtime payment guidelines issued by the Director General of Institutions, based on Public Administration Circular No. 10/2025, which outlines overtime procedures for postal department officers, and opposition to mandatory fingerprint attendance tracking for officers in all administrative and accounting offices of the postal department.
Issuing a statement, Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara said these two demands challenge official government policy, and initiating a strike in protest is deemed an unfair course of action.
The circular in question (10/2025) introduced a salary increase across the public service and provided clear instructions on overtime entitlements. Postal officers now receive a substantial increase in their monthly salary and overtime, approximately 40% more, compared to previous months. The Director General’s guidelines ensure fair overtime calculations, including additional allowances of 25% or 50% per hour, depending on department-specific conditions.
From April 1, 2025, overtime payments are to be made under this new system. When compared with March 2025 figures, employees are already receiving higher salaries and overtime benefits. Therefore, the unions’ claim of disadvantage is unfounded, he said.
The Postmaster General further said that, additionally, maximum possible allowances have been granted for overtime in all administrative and accounting offices. Fingerprint-based attendance for regular duties is now mandatory, and the unions’ opposition to this is also part of the strike’s basis.
“Currently, 90% of the postal department’s total expenditure is allocated to salaries and overtime. Operating outside government regulations or audit recommendations is not feasible. If revenue does not improve, the department’s annual operational loss could exceed Rs. 12 billion. In response, the department is actively working to introduce value-added postal services that meet modern consumer needs. At such a critical juncture, it is regrettable that trade unions are misleading employees and resorting to disruptive action,” he said.
Ruwan Sathkumara went on to note that out of 3,354 sub-post offices, sub-postmasters have declared they will not participate in the strike, adding that these offices will continue to operate normally, and postal services will be available through them.
The Postmaster General said, however, the public is advised that mail delivery may be delayed due to the strike, expressing regret for any inconvenience caused by this unjustified trade union action. (Newswire)
