Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa pointed out that construction of a first-class post office building will be carried out in the Batticaloa district after 35 years.

In line with the Government’s policy statement, themed ‘A Rich Country, a Beautiful Life’ the Government has implemented a programme to develop the physical and human resources of the postal service operating in the country, which has a history of over 200 years, by innovating it.

Accordingly, the foundation stone for the construction of the new Kalawanchikudi Post Office building in the Batticaloa District of the Eastern Province at a cost of Rs. 29.5 million was laid with the presence of Health and Mass Media Minister on Thursday (18). The construction work is being carried out with the financial provisions from the Postal Department.

The Minister said that construction of a grade-one post office building will commence today in the Kalawanchikudi area of the Batticaloa district, after 35 years due to the failure of previous Governments to improve the postal service.

He said that construction of the buildings will begin from the moment the foundation stone is laid, and that the building will be opened to the public in December this year, providing services to over 9,000 people in this area.

The Minister emphasised that the Government will allocate funds for the modernisation of existing post offices and sub-post offices, and that a significant amount will be allocated for the development of the postal service in the upcoming budget.

Recalling that in the past, postal employees used their personal technical devices to maintain the service without allowing it to collapse due to insufficient physical resources required for the postal service, the Minister pointed out that Rs. 200 million has been allocated for the purchase of new lorries, cabs, as well as laptops and desktop computers, and that steps will be taken to recruit staff for various grades and promote staff grades.

He stated that there is no room for racism under the new Government, and that the people of Batticaloa, as well as the entire country, will live in harmony, enjoying democracy without racial discrimination, and that any attempt to incite racism and religious conflicts will not be tolerated and that the law will be enforced if there are people who engage in such activities.

The previous Governments had not taken steps to construct new post offices since 2016, and this is the fifth post office building for which the foundation stone was laid by the Government after coming to power. The Government has allocated Rs. 600 million for new construction in the Postal Department this year, and arrangements have been made to construct 20 post office buildings. The vision of the Sri Lanka Postal Department is to be the best relationship partner by providing modernised and multifaceted services.

EP Governor Professor Jayanthalal Ratnasekera, Batticaloa District Parliamentarian Kandasamy Prabhu, Kalawanchikudi Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Megasundaram Vinoraj, Secretary U. Udayasreedhar, Deputy Postmaster (Development) Thusitha Hulangama, Deputy Postmaster (Eastern Province) S. Prakas, Batticaloa District Postal Superintendent S. Jagan, Kalawanchikudi Postmaster R.U.T. Romesh and staff were also present.