The Sri Lanka Postal Department granted permanent appointment letters to 731 newly selected postal assistants yesterday, at a ceremony held at Temple Trees, with Health and Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa in attendance.

This recruitment marks the first time the Postal Department has hired permanent postal assistants since 2021. The department had been struggling with a severe operational crisis due to 1,982 vacancies at the end of last year. Upon a request from Minister Jayatissa, the Cabinet approved the recruitment of 1,000 assistants on August 19, 2025. The 731 appointees were selected from qualified relief workers already registered with the department and are being inducted into Grade III of the Primary Non-Technical Service category. The Health and Media Ministry is currently working to recruit the remaining 269 postal assistants.

Addressing the appointees, the Minister announced that Rs. 2.085 billion has been allocated this year for the modernisation of the postal service. This investment includes Rs. 250 million for purchasing lorries, Rs. 320 million for purchasing cab vehicles, Rs. 180 million for acquiring 1,500 tablet computers to introduce modern technology to sub-post offices, Rs. 75 million for purchasing 225 desktop computers, Rs. 40 million for providing renewable solar energy to some post offices, Rs. 600 million for the construction of 20 new post offices, which the Minister expects to be completed before the end of December and Rs. 600 million for the renovation of 209 existing post offices.

“All of this is being provided at a time when the Post is a financial burden on the Treasury,” the Minister emphasised.

The Minister stressed that the ultimate goal of these investments and recruitments is to transform the postal service from a Treasury burden into a profit-generating entity.

“The purpose of these recruitments is to rapidly deliver all services, win the public’s trust, increase revenue, and make the Post a place that adds revenue, not burden the Treasury,” he said.

He reminded the recruits and the management that this is a challenge they must accept. While he fulfils his duty as the subject Minister, the Postmaster General and the management must take their responsibility, and the employees must also commit to this challenge.

The Minister issued a stark warning: if the postal service fails to become profitable even after these resources are provided, the Government will have to reconsider whether it should continue to invest Treasury funds to maintain the department in its current form. He noted that if the income of a post or sub-post office does not even cover the salary of the employee, the feasibility of continuing that office must be reviewed.

The Minister urged all nearly 20,000 postal employees to work together as one family to elevate the service, emphasising that their conduct impacts the public in many ways. He expressed his expectation that all postal workers will act responsibly, understanding the Government’s immense commitment to developing the 200-year-old postal service.

The vision of the Sri Lanka Postal Department is to become the best connectivity partner by providing modernised, multi-faceted services.

The event was attended by Health and Media Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Additional Secretary Kelum Wijenaike, Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara, Deputy Postmasters General H.M.P. Herath (Operations) and Chamesha De Silva (Administration), Controller (Operations) Indika Perera, Administration Secretary (Staff) Samanthika Premaratne, Senior Administration Secretary Chamil Wickramarachchi, Provincial Deputy Postmasters General, trade union representatives and other officials.