Services provided by the Government Post Office located at the World Trade Centre, Colombo 1

I just went to the post office on the ground floor of the World Trade Centre with Margi. It was 11.30 a.m. In case you wondering why I mention the time, do read on. Margi had 235 letters to be franked and posted off and she had driven all the way from Moratuwa to do this.

There was a lethargic looking lady who was at the counter. We were happy that apart from a couple of others, we were about the only customers in the post office at the time. When we told her we wanted our letters posted, she put them on a side and told us to come after 3.00 p.m. cos, it was a ‘busy time’ (the two other people at the registered post counter were already being served by the lady at that counter). She also came up with the gem that it was “lunch time” Help! Lunch at 11.30 a.m.!!! WONDERFUL isn’t it??? If we had come in at 10.00 a.m. it would have been tea time and after 3.00 p.m. the place would have been closed!

I looked around wildly looking for this huge impatient crowd behind me waiting to be served. Not seeing anyone there, I double checked with Margi, just in case I’m going blind in my old age. Nope… nary a soul (unless they were invisible). So I queried, very politely too, looking around very pointedly at the empty place, ‘busy time’? Lunch time? It’s 11.30 miss.

Margi meanwhile, equally pointedly looked towards the Post Master’s office. Now I don’t quite know whether he would have supported the lady or not, but seeing two very determined people in front of her, she surrendered and asked a peon whether he would do the franking for us, (forbid the thought of her actually soiling those hands by using the machine sitting right in front of her) The peon obliged…. …… it took all of about 3-4 minutes to do the job.

Thank goodness there are still a few people actually working in the government departments in return for the salary which they are paid!