I very frequently patronise the sub post office on Thurstan Road, almost opposite College House. I suppose it is meant to ease the life of the students and faculty of the University of Colombo. It tries to do this but places severe burdens on the single officer that mans the post office.

Some time ago there was a chief officer. He was sent on transfer. The officer who dealt with mailing; i.e. selling of stamps etc., is now in charge. He has to attend to all matters, single-handed and that is near impossible.

He is a very good officer and attends to customers very promptly. He tries to maintain this excellent and rare-in-Sri-Lanka work ethic, but how can one single person sell stamps, write registered post receipts, take calls for customers and often attend to about 15 persons in the post office?

Recently I noticed him hobbling about. On enquiring, he said he had sprained his ankle. I asked him why he wasn’t resting in bed. "How can I take leave? The university people have to be served and I cannot close the post office" I was bold enough to ask him whether he was promoted chief officer. No, and no also to any increase in salary.

That’s inhuman treatment!

We have an unemployment problem. Why aren’t more persons taken in to work in POs and give good customer care to the public. Or is it that the country has no money to hire a couple of extra hands to serve the public. But the country has millions to spend on just two palaces.

Postal VIPs please take note of this situation and REMEDY IT.
Mrs. M. T. Perera