The Sri Lankan Army today assisted with the distribution of postal parcels due to the ongoing strike by postal employees. 

The strike launched by postal trade unions on 17th August continued for the 05th consecutive day today. The strike is being carried out over 19 demands.

A large number of parcels hoarded at the Central Mail Exchange, as a result of the strike, were cleared by the Sri Lankan Army, with the assistance of the Police. 

Measures were taken to clear the parcels, despite opposition from postal employees engaged in a satyagraha at the Central Mail Exchange premises. (Newswire)

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Postal trade unions currently on strike have launched a satyagraha in front of the Central Mail Exchange in Colombo.

Representatives from several unions, including the Lanka Teachers’ Union and the Workers’ Struggle Centre, have joined the demonstration.

Due to the protest, special police security has been deployed around the Central Mail Exchange since this morning (22).

It is reported that police were summoned to the site after certain groups obstructed the duties of workers preparing to dispatch parcels.

The strike, which began at midnight on the 17th August based on 19 key demands, continues into its fifth day today. As a result, the public has faced significant difficulties in accessing postal services.

Treasurer of the All-Island Sub-Postmasters’ Association, Ravindra Amarajeewa, has urged fellow union representatives to end the strike without causing further inconvenience to the public.

Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara issued a statement declaring that all postal workers absent today would be treated as having vacated their positions.

He also announced that all leave granted to postal workers since 17th August has been revoked, and those who fail to report to work without formal approval will not receive their salary for this month.

The Postmaster General further requested that all striking postal workers return to work immediately if they wish to receive their monthly pay. (Newswire)

Postal trade unions currently on strike have launched a satyagraha in front of the Central Mail Exchange in Colombo. pic.twitter.com/D0NiJK8ohw

— NewsWire (@NewsWireLK) August 22, 2025

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Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara has announced that striking postal employees will not be paid their salaries for this month.

In a letter sent to employees engaged in the strike, he informed them that they must immediately report back to duty if they wish to receive their monthly pay. Sathkumara said the unions involved in the strike have also been officially notified of this decision.

He further stated that the ongoing trade union action has already caused losses of around Rs. 140 million to the postal service.

“We need Treasury allocations to pay salaries. I have been informed that funds will not be released to cover payments for those who remain on strike. Therefore, only those who report to work will be entitled to their salaries,” the Postmaster General said. (Newswire)

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The half-dressed postal employee who spoke to the media yesterday on the ongoing postal strike is a former Chairman of the Lunugamvehera Provincial Council, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa informed Parliament today.

Addressing the Parliament, Minister Jayatissa clarified that the government provides postal employees with their uniform, socks, and shoes. 

“We provide them with the uniform, socks, and shoes and also provide an allowance to sew the uniform. But, now they are requesting that the uniform not be provided and for the allowance to be given to their hands,” he said. 

Minister Nalinda Jayatissa further said that a group of trade unions at the Central Mail Exchange have launched a strike against fingerprint recording and is calling for an increase in overtime payments. 

“In order for the overtime to be calculated, we need a fingerprint recording. A group of postal employees are already using the fingerprint system. Why can’t those at the Central Mail Exchange also do so?” he questioned.

Minister Nalinda Jayatissa added that the government will implement the fingerprint system at the Central Mail Exchange.

Pointing out that 17 out of the 19 demands of postal employees have been resolved and are currently being implemented, the minister said that the issue now is over fingerprint recording and overtime payments.

Stating that the government will not back down over this matter, Minister Jayatissa said that a discussion will be granted if the postal employees agree to the fingerprint and overtime proposals. (Newswire)

"The pants, shirt, shoes and socks are provided by the government," Minister Nalinda Jayatissa responds to claims that a list of postal workers' demands were reduced to fingerprinting and overtime allowances. He alleged the strike was politically motivated and said the government… pic.twitter.com/lbLMHtRlRn

— NewsWire (@NewsWireLK) August 21, 2025

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A half-dressed Postal employee has slammed the authorities, including the Postal Minister, for misleading the public with false information regarding the ongoing postal strike. 

Speaking to the media, the Postal employee claimed that the authorities have failed to provide them with sufficient salaries and allowances, leading to them launching a strike. 

“We have requested that our uniform allowance be increased. We have asked for an increase in allowances for bicycles. We have also requested that the contracts of employees be made permanent. But they are talking about fingerprints and overtime,” he claimed. 

Revealing that Rs. 600 is provided to sew their uniforms and Rs. 250 is granted as allowance for bicycles, the Postal employee questioned if these were considered sufficient. 

He further alleged that the authorities were spreading misinformation regarding the continuous strike conducted by the Postal trade unions. 

The strike, which began on Sunday (17), is based on 19 key demands. Despite a discussion at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday, the postal trade unions announced that the strike action will continue. (Newswire)

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Postal trade unions have announced that their strike action will continue uninterrupted, despite a successful discussion at the Presidential Secretariat today. 

Following a meeting with the Director General of Public Relations at the Presidential Secretariat, Dharmasiri Gamage, the unions shared their stance with the media.

“We request an immediate meeting with the Minister. After that discussion, we are prepared to end the continuous strike. Until then, the strike will remain in effect,” President of the Association of Postal and Telecommunication Officers, E.G.C. Niroshan, said.

The strike, which began on Sunday (17), is based on 19 key demands. As a result, operations at post offices across the country have been severely disrupted. (Newswire)

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