Sri Lanka’s Postal Department said it will prepare a budget to obtain fi – nancial assistance from the Treasury to modernise postal services and upgrade its facilities, Post Master General Shervyn Senadheera told the Sunday Observer.

He said postal services across the globe have moved into fi nancial transactions, banking services, logistics and other value added services meeting customer expectations as a one-stop shop. “Postal services are no more limited to delivering letters and selling stamps. Services that fulfi l wider customer needs in a professional manner are necessary today” he said.

Lack of communication technology and IT facilities in the postal department are the major obstacles to provide a better service to the people. He said building network facilities, improving the technology and providing agency services over the counter are some of the key services that will bring additional revenue to the department. The Department which was set up in 1798 has 20,000 employees, 637 post offi ces and 3,500 sub post offi ces. Over 7,000 postmen carry out a major task.