Sri Lankan postal workers protest against privatization, alleged corruption

Sri Lankan postal workers staged a one-day strike Monday, paralyzing the island’s postal service, as a part of their campaign against privatization and alleged corruption in the postal department.

Postal workers around the country have joined this strike demanding action against corruption and waste and also to halt any effort to privatize the service, said postal union spokesman Nawaratne Bandara.

The government has repeatedly said it has no plans to privatize any state institution.

But Bandara complained that the government had licensed private companies to deliver mail as well, in what amounted to a de facto privatization campaign.