“The Postal Department is facing a crisis due to the severe shortage of stamps and is suffering a loss of millions of rupees,” the Joint Postal Trade Union Alliance said today.
 
The Union’s Convener Chinthaka Bandara said that there is a severe shortage of 50 cents, Rs.1, Rs.2, Rs.3, Rs,12, Rs.50 and Rs.100 stamps. The reason for the scarcity of stamps is the backlog in printing the stamps, the Sri Lanka Philatelic Bureau sources said.
 
They said the stamps shortage will be rectified in two weeks time as there was a heavy workload at the department printing press. Bandara said the department is facing a crisis. “Stamps are one of the biggest revenue makers for the Postal Department. Due to this shortage we are losing millions of rupees. If this problem is not rectified we will face further issues,” he said.
 
Meanwhile he said the backlog of letters that were piled up at the department during the trade union action last week has been sent out and the remainder will be circulated tomorrow.  (Olindhi Jayasundere)