Postal workers end seven-day strike after Govt concessions but two key issues remain unresolved

Sri Lanka’s week-long postal strike came to an end on 24 August, following successful negotiations between trade union representatives and government officials, according to Chinthaka Bandara, co-convener of the Joint Postal Trade Union Front.

The decision to call off the strike was made after a meeting at the Ministry of Mass Media involving Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara, and representatives from the postal trade unions.

Bandara stated that the government and postal authorities had given a written assurance to resolve 17 of the union’s 19 demands within one month.

However, two key issues — the implementation of fingerprint attendance systems and the granting of overtime allowances — remain unresolved.

Further talks are expected to address legal concerns around the use of fingerprint machines and the conditions for overtime payments.

The strike, which began at 4:00 p.m. on 17 August, had caused widespread disruption across postal services. All postal employees returned to work on 25 August following the agreement.