Corrective measures to rectify postal service shortcomings

COLOMBO: Shortcomings at the top management level in the postal service has led to several irregularities. Corrective measures will be taken immediately after submission of the Committee Report, Posts and Telecommunications Minister Rauff Hakeem said yesterday.

Hakeem revealed this to representatives of trade unions attached to the Postal Department during discussions to enlighten them on matters of the interim committee report which probed into the alleged corruption and irregularities at the Postal Department.

The committee which probed into the allegations repeatedly put forward by the trade unions carried out its investigations based on 22 counts and submitted its findings on 10 special matters of grave nature.

Challenging the validity of the appointment of the Post Master General, Post Master General not being vested with powers to act on disciplinary matters and finance, unlawful transfer of five staff officers attached to the postal department, corruption involving the purchase of 10,000 bicycles for the use of postmen outside tender procedures, non-implementation of the instructions issued by the ministry in the purchase of bicycles, acting in a way to create an artificial shortage of stamps, spending Rs. 3 million for the construction of post office stall at the Dayata Kirula exhibition ground, spending ministry money on a newspaper advertisement placed by a company to the distribution of bicycles, instructing the then Deputy Post Master General (operations) with regard to taking delivery of computer accessories purchased in 2003, and irregular maintenance of departmental accounts were among the matters the committee dealt with at the investigation.

Hakeem said both short term and long term steps were needed to be taken to rectify these shortcomings. He instructed the Ministry secretary to attend to these matters.

The Minister also dealt with matters on business posts and said a long term plan was needed to be introduced into this field and said it required Treasury approval. He said he would contemplate on introducing modern technology to make this service efficient with Treasury provisions. Ministry Secretary W.M. Piyasena, Ministry officials and trade union representatives were associated with the Minister at this meeting.