Modern technology for post offices countrywide -Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga

By Uditha KUMARASINGHE

Post and Telecommunication Minister Jeewan Kumaratunga said the Government has decided to infuse modern technology into the country's postal service and bring that technology to the village level via post offices. This endeavour would provide a more efficient service to the people through post offices and the Postal Department would function without becoming a burden to the Government. The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer expressed his plans to develop the country's post and telecommunication sectors.

Q: What are your plans to improve the postal service?

A: At present we are discussing several new measures to develop the postal service. One of our key objectives is to infuse modern technology into the postal service and bring that technology to the village level through post offices. Through this move, we intend to create a close link between the post office and the people in each village by providing them a more friendly service via post offices. To make this endeavour a success, the Postal Department hopes to create close links with several other institutions.

At present, the people in remote areas and villages have to come to the town to obtain various services from post offices.

Therefore, our intention is to introduce modern technology to the post offices in village areas and allow people in villages to obtain the services from their nearest post offices. This would help to provide more efficient service to the people through post offices and the Postal Department would function without becoming a burden to the Government. We have conducted a series of discussions on this matter and our intention is to commence this task as soon as possible. The Postal Department is one of the oldest state ventures in the country which provides round the clock service to the people.

Q: What are your plans to improve the post offices islandwide including those in the North and the East?

A: We would focus special attention to set up post offices in the Northern and the Eastern provinces. During the past three decades, we were unable to conduct a systematic postal service in these two provinces due to the terrorist activities which prevailed in those areas. A large number of postal buildings in these two provinces has been destroyed due to terrorist activities. We will pay special attention to strengthen the postal service in the Northern and the Eastern provinces.

Steps have also been taken to set up 26 new post offices in the Northern and the Eastern provinces.

The Ministry has also decided to provide vans to conduct the postal service in the North and the East without any delay.

The Ministry has already deployed three vehicles to these provinces. Another four vehicles will be provided to these provinces shortly. We firmly believe the postal service can play a vital role to create a bridge between the North and the South. Measures will also be taken to develop the post offices as prime public places to suit present day needs using modern technology.

If there are any shortcomings in the post offices functioning in the southern province, steps will be taken to introduce new post offices with a modern technology to overcome these shortcomings.

Q: Do you plan to offer more services through post offices?

A: The Ministry has decided to make collaborative efforts with several institutions to provide more services to the people through post offices. At present there are nearly 6,500 post offices and sub post offices in the country. All these should be brought under one network. Through this network, we can also bring all the connected institutions with the Postal Department to the village level. If people can obtain all their services from their village post office, they don't need to go to the town spending money and valuable time.

We hope to provide an opportunity to the people to pay their bills and conduct their banking activities through post offices. The Ministry has also decided to expand the postal service in countrywide schools and universities as well. In addition, the Ministry has also decided to take stern action regarding the complaints regarding missing parcels at the Central Mail Exchange.

Q: How do you propose to improve the telecom facilities countrywide?

A: At present our telecom facilities are widening day by day due to the measures taken by the Sri Lanka Telecom and other private sector companies. I think we don't need to implement a special plan to improve the telecom network as these institutions always introduce modern technology to improve this sector day by day. However, we will try to bring the telecom network under one policy.

The competitiveness among various private sector telecom companies has led to various problems with each other. Therefore, we have focused attention to formulate a single policy which would lead to Government and private sector companies functioning successfully and providing a more effective service to the public by these institutions.

Q: What can be done to improve the efficiency of the post and telecom service and minimise delay?

A: When modern technology is infused to the post office network, it would definitely lead to minimise the delay and improve the efficiency of the postal system. We are also exploring the possibility of introducing a new bar code system for post offices.

It will record the time that a letter takes and reaches the particular post office in that area. Under this new system there will be no delay in delivering of letters. If there is any delay or the letter is lost, it would be very easy to identify it. Under the present system, it is very difficult to trace a letter that misplaced or lost.

There is no person to take responsibility for it. When the new system is introduced, it would help to find all details of every letter from the time it was posted. If there is any delay, we can easily monitor it and take necessary measures to prevent it.

Even today 98 percent of letters are properly delivered through post offices. Our target is to increase this capacity up to one hundred percent within the next three months.

One of the key reasons, is that no proper survey has been conducted during the past 30 years on the zones which have been introduced to deliver letters.

During the past 30 years, these zones have been subjected to massive changes and the number of families living in those zones has increased rapidly.

Therefore, one postman has to cater to a vast number of areas. The Ministry has decided to revise this situation within the next six months.

Q: The post code system was introduced with much publicity, but is not being used. Will you try to revive the post code system and other new technology?

A: At present the Ministry is discussing this issue and popularise this post code system with other services.

Q: Are there any new facilities for our expatriates to remit money from the Middle East and other countries?

A: At present a large number of our expatriates from rural areas is working in the Middle East and other countries. But they face a lot of inconvenience to send money directly to their family members in villages.

When an effective network is created connecting all post offices, expatriates could directly send money to their family members and they could collect their money from the nearest post office.

Q: Courier companies are doing big business at the expense of Sri Lanka Post. How do you plan to get a bigger slice of the international parcel market?

A: At present we are discussing this issue. The Postal Department also conducts courier services. But funds have not been allocated to educate the public to patronise our courier services. I have already instructed the relevant officials to request from the treasury to allocate some funds for this purpose annually. This would help to popularise our courier to service among the people. In addition, there is also the possibility conduct our courier service within the country very well.

But steps should be taken to strengthen our courier service to foreign countries as well. At present, we are having discussions with private sector courier companies to resolve this issue and conduct courier service within and outside the country. This would be more advantageous to the state and private sector.

Q: How will the Ministry handle the anticipated demand for telecom facilities in the country particularly in the North?

A: Sri Lanka Telecom and various private sector companies have catered to the telecom demand in the country.

The Ministry is monitoring this process and most of the public demand for telecom facilities are provided through private sector companies.If these private sector companies expand their telecom facilities at village level, they can also obtain more benefits. I think they are doing their task well at present.

The private sector telecom companies have expanded their services to the North and the East as well. When attempts are being made to develop telecom facilities in the North and the East, it will be a more positive development.

Q: Internet penetration is very low in Sri Lanka. How do you plan to increase this and take the internet facilities to people in rural areas?

A: We have already laid key emphasis on this issue. In the near future, the Ministry will sign an MoU with the Chinese Government to take internet facilities to village level. The youth in the village should also see the modern world. Internet is the easy access which would enable them to see the world. At present a program is being formulated to provide a computer to every youth on an easy payment scheme. The Ministry will also provide some IT training to these youth. This would help youth to connect with the world via internet. Even in Colombo there are some youth who have never touched a computer.

Q: There is no proper policy to instal telecom towers. Will you review the situation in consultation with the TRC?

A: Several companies have discussed this matter with the Ministry to cover certain area through a special unit without installing telecom towers. If we can introduce this new technology, we could resolve the problem of these telecom towers.

Q: Will there be any increase in postal rates in the near future?

A: At present discussions are under way regarding a certain revision on postal rates. Even today postal rates are at a very low level.

The Government provides this mainly as a service to the people. Various postal services are conducted by the Postal Department - such as ordinary post and commercial post. But we have not taken a policy decision to increase postal rates so far. At present it is under discussion.