Sri Lanka’s Postal Department has reportedly suffered a significant revenue loss due to the introduction of the GovPay payment gateway for traffic fines.  

According to the Postal Trade Unions Front (UPTUF), the new digital service has eliminated the income generated by the Postal Department from such payments.

The trade union points out that this shift from post office-based fine payments results in the Postal Department losing between Rs. 600 million and Rs. 800 million in annual revenue.

The Postal Trade Unions Front reveals that this new digital payment for traffic fines was introduced when the Postal Department had already introduced a new SMS notification system for individuals paying police fines at post offices.

Stating that this system was proposed to be developed to notify the respective traffic police officer and the individual who paid the fine via SMS, the trade union claimed that it was not implemented due to a lack of response from the Police Department.

The trade union revealed it was not opposed to the use of technology and urged the government to launch the SMS fine system designed by the Postal Department, warning that a revenue loss could directly impact the Treasury.

As the GovPay online traffic fine payment system has been introduced as a pilot programme, the trade union urged the government to revise and integrate its SMS fine system. (Newswire)

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An office assistant of the Postal Department who had received Rs. 11,000 as a bribe has been sentenced to 28 years of rigorous imprisonment, to be served in seven years. 

It is reported that Colombo High Court Judge Mahesh Weeraman had issued the order in connection to a case filed regarding a complaint by a businessman in Mirigama. 

According to the complainant, the office assistant had solicited a bribe to release 30 CCTV cameras imported to Sri Lanka from the international express section of the Central Post Exchange duty-free. 

The Colombo High Court convicted the office assistant under four charges serving a jail term of 07 years per charge. 

The judge also imposed a fine of Rs. 5000 on the office assistant, warning that failure to settle the payment will result in an additional 06 months jail term. (Newswire)

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The Department of Post has issued a clarification over recent reports involving stamps which contain images of Prime Minister Harini Amarasuirya and Minister Vijitha Herath.

Issuing a statement, the Department said that personalised postage stamps were presented to the Prime Minister and Minister Herath who were guests of honour at the event to commemorate the World Post Day.

Clarifying further, the Department noted that it issued postage stamps under several categories, adding that the stamps presented to the guests were under the personalised stamp category.

Any person can obtain a personalised stamp with their image, the Postal Department said, adding that it was customary for the department to gift personalised stamps to mark special events.

However, this incident has been falsely depicted and distorted on social media, the Postal Department said.

There were no postage stamps issued to mark the World Post Day carrying the images of Prime Minister Amarasuriya and Minister Vijitha Herath, the Department said. (Newswire)

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The world’s longest stamp, measuring 205 mm, was released by Sri Lanka’s Postal Department on Tuesday (Aug 20).

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the stamp symbolizes the historic Sri Dalada Perahera in Kandy and is valued at Rs. 500.

Following its launch, the world’s longest stamp was presented to President Ranil Wickremesinghe. (Newswire)

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The Department of Posts has warned the public of a financial scam via SMS linked to local or foreign parcels. 

The department said fraudsters were using a fake website similar to that of the Postal Department as well as a fake telephone number to carry out the scam. 

The Postal Department clarified that Sri Lanka Post does not request bank card details via SMS. 

The department has requested the public to remain vigilant and refrain from providing their personal bank details based on such fake SMS. (Newswire)

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The Department of Posts has issued a notice on the operating hours of post offices designated for the payment of traffic fines at night.

Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara said the initiative to allow the public to pay traffic fines at post offices at night was launched on March 18, 2024. 

He further said that special operating hours were allocated for the payment of traffic fines at night.

The operation times of post offices for this purpose are as follows;

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Sri Lanka’s Postal Department has provided an opportunity for citizens to create postal stamps with their photographs, it was reported.

According to Ada Derana, addressing an event in Colombo today, Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara said that the public can create postal stamps using their photographs for a cost of Rs. 2000.

Stating that a sheet consisting of 20 stamps will be provided for that cost, he further said that the stamps can be utilised as regular stamps in Sri Lanka. 

“Such stamps can be created to commemorate birthdays or important occasions, while they could also be used to post wedding invitations,” he added. (NewsWire)

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The United Postal Trade Unions’ Front has announced a 48-hour token strike from midnight today (Nov 07).

Co-convener of United Postal Trade Unions’ Front Chinthaka Bandara said the trade union action is being launched to protest the government’s decision to sell the postal offices in Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. 

Chinthaka Bandara warned that an indefinite trade union action will be launched if the government fails to heed their demands.

Earlier today, Cabinet spokesman Minister Bandula Gunawardena announced plans to hand over the Nuwara Eliya Post Office, an iconic building, to the Taj Samudra Hotel as a hotel project.

He said the decision has been taken as currently the government is unable to maintain the building. (NewsWire)

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An investigation has been launched into online financial fraud conducted offering courier services by setting up a website similar to the official website of Sri Lanka’s Postal Department, it was reported.  

Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis was informed in this regard by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on Wednesday (Oct 24), with the CID further saying that the probe had been launched based on a complaint made by the Postmaster General.

The CID explained that the fraud had been conducted via an online banking system created for courier service on a website similar to that of the Postal Department.

The public is said to have received SMSs on parcels for them which require to be collected and could be done by visiting the said website and providing their bank and credit/debit card details and a payment of Rs. 95 as stamp duty.

The CID informed the court that fraudsters had earned millions in rupees by accessing the bank details of those who had fallen victim to the online fraud.

Providing details on the probe, the CID said investigations are underway to ascertain the involvement of Postal Department employees or if it is being carried out by outsiders.

The CID also requested the court to issue an order to the banks to provide analytical reports regarding the credit accounts. (NewsWire)

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Sri Lanka’s Postal Department has warned the public of two financial scams using details of the department.

The first scam involves a fake website similar to that of the Postal Department containing an online transaction system. 

Issuing a clarification, the department stated that Sri Lanka Post has not facilitated an online transaction system on its official website.

The department said information has come to light of a website similar to that of the Postal Department operating to financially defraud the public by obtaining information about their credit and debit cards.

The suspects are found to have sent SMSs to various people informing them of a payment required for a parcel at the Postal Department that had been dispatched in their name. 

Addressing the matter, the Postal Department has informed the public that no such online transaction facility is available on its official website. 

The Postal Department further said the second financial scam targets Sri Lankans claiming that postal deliveries have failed due to a missing address line. 

The scammers, pretending to be from the department, send out SMSs or emails to the victims requesting to log on to a website similar to that of the department which then requires them to share information of their credit/ debit cards. 

The Postal Department has requested the public to refrain from falling victim to such scams. 

The Postal Department has requested the public wishing to file a complaint in this regard or requiring more details to contact the department via its emergency hotline 1950 or contact their area post office. (NewsWire)

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