Two newly constructed post office buildings, the Kaluwanchikudy Post Office in Batticaloa District and the Jayanthipura Post Office in Polonnaruwa District, will be vested in the public on Saturday, July 25, marking a major step in the modernization of Sri Lanka’s postal service.

According to the Ministry of Mass Media, built at a combined cost of Rs. 60 million, the projects form part of the government’s policy statement “A Prosperous Country – A Beautiful Life”, under the guidance of Health and Mass Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa.

For the first time in a decade, provisions were allocated for new post office construction. From the Rs. 600 million set aside in the 2025 Budget, Rs. 29.5 million each was spent on these two buildings. Already, five new post offices and three sub‑post offices built under the same budget have been opened to the public.

The Jayanthipura Grade II Post Office will serve 13,300 families, 5,252 households, as well as government institutions, banks, financial institutions, and schools. Polonnaruwa District currently operates 12 post offices and 92 sub‑post offices.

The Kaluwanchikudy Grade I Post Office is the first Grade I facility built in Batticaloa in 35 years. It will provide direct services to 9,671 families, while its seven affiliated sub‑post offices will serve another 3,821 families. Together, they will cover 13,472 households, 38 government institutions, six hotels, and 43 factories. Batticaloa District presently has 21 post offices and 66 sub‑post offices.

Under the postal infrastructure modernization program, Rs. 600 million was allocated in 2025 for building renovations, refurbishing nearly 200 post offices and administrative offices. In 2026, further provisions have been set aside to continue essential development and repairs.

Additional allocations include Rs. 588 million for vehicles, Rs. 27 million for CCTV systems, Rs. 74 million for desktop computers, Rs. 101 million for tablets, and Rs. 31 million for 657 fingerprint machines. Solar power systems have already been installed at Kaluwanchikudy, Polonnaruwa, the Central Postal Exchange, and the Postal Headquarters at a cost of Rs. 24 million.

The move aims to transform the postal service into a more efficient, modern, and people‑friendly state service across the country. (Newswire)

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The Kaluwanchikudy Magistrate’s Court on Monday (21) issued an order to the Consultant Judicial Medical Officer (CJMO) in Colombo to submit a revised draft plan for the excavation of the Kurukkalmadam mass grave. 

The order was issued when the case related to the abduction, enforced disappearance, and alleged killing and burial of pilgrims and traders who were returning home after completing the Hajj pilgrimage on 12.07.1990, was taken up before the court.

At the previous hearing, the  Magistrate had issued summons to the Attorney General, the Office on Missing Persons (OMP), and the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Kaluwanchikudy Police Station to appear before court. 

In compliance, the legal representatives of the Office on Missing Persons and the OIC were present in court yesterday. However, no one appeared on behalf of the Attorney General’s Department.

The counsel representing the Office on Missing Persons made a submission to the Court stating that the Office continues to maintain its position that the Kurukkalmadam mass grave should be properly excavated. 

The counsel further submitted that their office is ready to act as observers if the court makes an order to excavate the suspicious location at Kurukkalmadam.

Taking into consideration the said submission, the Magistrate ordered the Consultant Judicial Medical Officer (CJMO) in Colombo to submit a revised draft plan for the excavation of the Kurukkalmadam mass grave. 

Furthermore, the Court directed the Attorney General to appear at the next hearing.

Representing the complainant Abdul Majeed Rauf, Attorney-at-Law Muhaimeen Khalid, President of the Voices Movement, appeared along with a team of lawyers including Mubarak Muazzam, Hassan Rusdhi, S.M. Manardeen, F.H.A. Amjad, and A.L. Aazath.

The Voices Movement has been continuously working in the past to ensure justice for the victims of the Kurukkalmadam mass grave atrocities. (Newswire)

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