The strike action initiated by the Postal and Telecommunications Officers’ Union, together with the United Postal Trade Unions’ Front (UPTUF), will continue for the second consecutive day today (18).

According to union representatives, the strike is based on 19 key demands, including the payment of overtime allowances for postal officers and opposition to the directive requiring officers in administrative and accounts offices to record attendance using fingerprint machines.

The strike commenced at 4.00 p.m. yesterday (17) at the Colombo Central Mail Exchange and escalated into a continuous, island-wide strike covering postal and administrative offices from midnight onwards.

As a result, all postal services will be disrupted today, said Chinthaka Bandara, co-convener of the United Postal Trade Unions’ Front.

However, Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara said many demands had already been met and launching such a strike was unreasonable.

Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa also urged postal workers to resume duties, warning that revenue losses from the strike could impact future salary increases and overtime payments. He appealed to employees to acknowledge the current circumstances and help transform the department into a profitable institution.