October 05, Colombo (LNW): After a significant pause in hiring, the Department of Posts is set to induct 731 new personnel into the position of Postal Assistant, Grade III, within the Primary Non-Skilled Service Category.
The formal appointment letters are expected to be distributed on the October 06 at Temple Trees, with the proceedings to be officiated by the Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr Nalinda Jayatissa.
This ceremony signifies not just a personal milestone for the recruits, but a critical turning point for the Department of Posts, which has not seen a permanent intake for this role since 2021.
The prolonged halt in hiring led to a backlog of nearly 2,000 vacancies by the close of 2024. This gap in staffing placed considerable strain on the department’s day-to-day operations, severely impacting postal services and logistics nationwide.
In light of these challenges, Minister Jayatissa submitted a proposal to the Cabinet earlier this year, seeking approval to urgently fill part of the vacant positions. On August 19, 2025, Cabinet gave the green light to recruit 1,000 new Postal Assistants.
The 731 individuals now set for permanent appointment were selected from a pool of substitute employees who had already been serving within the department and possessed the required qualifications.
