Sri Lanka Post has a long history of 209 years, dating back to 1798, when the colonial Dutch rulers started five post offices in the Maritime Districts under their control. In 1799, they published the first postal regulations and postage rates. The Dutch East India Companyoperated the Postal service, which was not meant for the public but for official use. The British took control of the country in 1815, when E. Bletterman was the Postmaster General for the whole island. Mr. Lewis Sansoni succeeded Bletterman as the second Postmaster General in 1817. The third Postmaster General was Major G. Stewart, who extended the postal services to major towns in the country. They re-organised the postal service and others eventually established a permanent Post Office in Colombo in 1882. Postage stamps The only evidence of a British postal service before 1815 is a "Colombo Post Free" handstamp used on a soldier's letter in 1809, when British Royal Artillery troops were engaged to subdue Sri Vikrama Rajasinha, the king of Kandy (1798–1815), whose inland territory had never been under the influence of the Dutch. The first adhesive stamps (the six-pence purple-brown stamps on blued paper) were issued on 1 April 1857, seventeen years after Britain had introduced the adhesive postage stamp to the world. The first stamps in local denominations of rupees and cents were issued on 1 February 1892. TheGeneral post Office The General Post Office was housed in different places in Colombo. By 1895 it acquired its own building, opposite the Governor General's residence - the Queens's House on Queen's Street, currently the Janadhipath Mawatha (President's Street). During the disturbances in the country, the GPO was moved out of its former building and into the present Postal Headquarters. The new building, consisting of 9 floors of modern facilities, is the center of operations and administration. The Postal Museum, too, is housed in this building. Transportation Over the years, different modes of transport have been used for the transportation and delivery of mail. In a bygone era, delivery was first by foot (in the hills and remote places it is not uncommon to see postmen delivering letters on foot, even today!), then bicycles were added. Sri Lanka Post was the first to inaugurate a mail coach service in Asia. The mail coach service began operations in 1832, between Colombo and Kandy.This was extended between Galle and Colombo in 1838. The year 1892 saw the first "Travelling Post Office" doing its run between Colombo and Peradeniya, a suburb of Kandy. "Bedford" vans made in England were used, even during the '70s. Today Sri Lanka Post uses a fleet of Japanese vehicles painted in the traditional red. During the '50s and '60s postmen on British made BSA - Bantam motorcycles were a familiar sight. When the postman's beat becoming smaller in the cities, the motorcycles gave way to the bicycles. The mails are carried today by railway, public and private omni-buses, and the department's fleet of vehicles.

A very important letter from USA was posted to.me under ordinary mail just after the lock down in Sri lanka for covid 19 was lifted. I was on constant lookout for this letter. However the sender, a Bank has omitted to include the city in the address. It only contained the house number , street and the country. But I got the letter within 6 weeks as Sri lanka Postal Department has taken action to find the city and ensured safe delivery of the letter. Also I received a parcel from the USA containing personal belongings of my child who returned to Sri.lanka due to the covid 19 epidemic. The officers at the Kandy post office fulfilled their courteous and highly efficient service enabling me to clear the parcel. I am so thankful and also very proud of our postal service and hope the department would add more features to further develop and improve its services and standards.

Postal HQ located in D R Wijewardana Mawatha Colombo . Biggest and busiest postal station in Sri Lanka. They have a product named Speed post which send the mail with in 4 hours ( Colombo urban area)during the day. Went there to obtain that service and have wait some minutes but not a big deal. However it’s typical like any other postal station in SL with less technology and more manual work.

Went to get the postal id card for my son. It took one hour. There are no rush or queue only few staff 2 or 3 were serving. Please take following things with you. 1. Get filled the form and 2nd page school should sign with rubber stamp. 2. One photo should certified by school. 3. Original birth certificate and copy of child. 4. Need to bring stamp of Rs. 200/- (you can buy even there).

Why is postal delivery services to home is not available, every country in the world offers but not Sri Lanka, have to come pick up. Who wants to wait in line to pick up a parcel. Please invest in couple of vans to offer delivery of parcels from abroad to directly to homes, like amazon. Also please invest in a computer, service is slow. Please improve and you will reap the rewards.

I HAD BOOKED A PHILATELIC ORDER FC19039 in May 2021 , In spite of repeated reminders no update is given on the order section . the order is yet to be received. the department is not willing to revert at all. the mails are bouncing back on the pretext that box is full. no one attends the query it seems .

Trying to contact for a week now ! My package been arrived from China just in 10 days - but its been detained in CMB Post Office for almost 11 days now. Its so sad to know the truth that, overseas package arrival lead time is way lesser than from CMB post office to my home.

The Postal headquarters sells latest publication of stamps and first day covers at their Philatelic bureau stall located in the 2nd floor. If you are interested in buying Sri Lankan stamps and First day covers, this is the best place for you.

Main office of the Postal Department. Surprising amount of facilities, there's even a postal museum, a well equipped canteen and an auditorium. Don't know about the offices, but the common areas and museum feels neglected and quite dusty..

This is the Head Office of the Sri Lankan Postal Department. It's come under the Ministry of Posts, Postal Services & Muslim Religious Affairs. It's is located next to Lotus Tower (South Asian Tallest Tower).

this is the head office of the srilankan postal department. ive visited this place quite a lot to clear some of my Parcels from normal post and EMS. they are quite helpful but lunch time is lunchtime :)

Same as the custom when you go to clear parcels items are missing and sometimes entire parcel is missing, they don't even care about it.also getting too much time to deliver parcel

Postal HQ building. Any one who willing to buy stamps there is a separate division called Philatelic Bureau. Nice place visit and buy stamps for stamp collectors.

Good Service & also cheaper than other courier services, but don't send any materials TURKEY COUNTRY, cos EMS services in this country is no good.

Bad service... i called to the given no. Customer service is very bad. She didnt know how to reply to a customer. Disappointed …

Same as the custom when you go to clear parcels items are missing and sometimes entire parcel is missing, they don't even care abt it

Very good location and visible from very long distance. Good and hearty service by the staff. Parking facility is available.

The head post office of the country, average customer service, nice place

This is the main tower of the ministry of postals & postal services.

If the plan doesn't work change the plan bt never the goal …

Not open everyday!!! Sunday is closed. I went and found out.

What's the purpose of a hotline, when no one answers???

පින් පඩි අයිස් පප්පලා ඉන්නේ.ආකාර්‍යක්ෂම රාජ්‍ය ආයතනයක්.

Red painting gives nice view along with lotus tower

The heart of the postal service in Sri Lanka

Very good place with parking facilities

Sri Lanka Post Office WTC Branch

our parcels items are missing,

Sri Lanka postal head office

very slow