POST OFFICE [Cap

POST OFFICE [Cap.520

OrdinancesNos.ll of 1908,

23 of 1909,24 of 1912,26 of 1914,20 of 1917,14 of 1926,27 of 1932,5 of 1933,

30 of 1933,35 of 1933,21 of 1934,12 of I936,37 of 1938,65 of 1938,6 of 1940,

18 of 1941,61 of 1946,

ActsNos.31 of 1955,

24 of 1957,

LawNo. 6 of 1973.

CHAPTER 520

POST OFFICE

AN O R D I N A N C E TO AMEND AND CONSOLIDATE THE LAW RELATING TO THE POSTOFFICE IN SRI LANKA.

Short title.

Presumptionsas to deliveryof postalarticles.

1. This Ordinance may be cited as thePost Office Ordinance.

2. For the purposes of this Ordinance—

(a) a postal article shall be deemed to bein course of transmission by postfrom the time of its being deliveredto a post office to the time of itsbeing delivered to the addressee, orof its being returned to the senderor otherwise disposed of undersection 37;

(b) the delivery of a postal article of anydescription to an officer of the postoffice authorized to receive postalarticles of that description for thepost shall be deemed to be adelivery to a post office; and

(c) the delivery of a postal article at thehouse or office of the addressee, orto the addressee or his servant or

[1st January. 1909.]

agent or other person considered tobe authorized to receive the articleaccording to the usual manner ofdelivering postal articles to theaddressee, shall be deemed to bedelivery to the addressee.

PRIVILEGE AND PROTECTION OFTHE GOVERNMENT

3. (1) Wherever posts or postal Establishmentcommunications are established, the of post offices.Government shall have the exclusiveprivilege of conveying by post, from oneplace to another, all letters, except in thefollowing cases, and shall also have theexclusive privilege of performing all theincidental services of receiving, collecting,sending, dispatching, and delivering allletters, except in the following cases, that isto say:—

(a) any letter entrusted to or carried ordelivered by a friend or other

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Cap.520] POST OFFICE

private agent of the sender or of thereceiver, without payment orpromise of any fee or reward for thecollection or acceptance or thecarriage or delivery thereof;

(b) any letter entrusted to or carried ordelivered by a paid agent ormessenger who is specially andsolely employed for the purposes ofthe sender or receiver and is not aperson generally engaged or open toengagement by members of thepublic for collecting and deliveringletters for fee or reward ;

(c) any letter which relates solely to aconsignment of goods and which issent and intended to be deliveredwith such consignment withoutpayment or promise of any fee orreward over and above the fee orreward payable for the carriage anddelivery of such consignment;

(d) any letter containing tradeannouncements, circulars, printedextracts from newspapers oradvertisements, which is notaddressed to any person by nameand is one of a number of lettersdistributed to members of thepublic without reference to any listof names or addresses;

(e) any letter carried by any personother than an officer of the postoffice either to a post office or letterbox for the purpose of posting orfrom a post office for delivery tothe addressee;

(f) any letter which is not transmissibleby post under any written law forthe time being in force.

(2) Nothing contained in subsection (1)shall be deemed to authorize any personto make a collection of letters of thedescription set out in paragraphs (a), (b)and (c) of that subsection for the purpose ofsending or dispatching such letters otherwisethan by post.

4. Wherever posts or postalcommunications are established, thefollowing persons are expressly forbidden tocollect, carry, tender, or deliver tetters or toreceive letters for the purpose of carrying ordelivering them, although they obtain no

Definitions forpurposes ofsections 3and 4.

hire, reward, or other profit or advantagefor so doing, that is to say:—

(a) common carriers of passengers orgoods and their servants or agents,except as regards letters solelyconcerning goods in their carts,carriages or other vehicles; and

(b) owners and masters of vessels sailingor passing on any river or canal inSri Lanka or between any ports orplaces in Sri Lanka, owners, pilotsor other persons in charge ofaircraft flying between any places inSri Lanka, and the servants oragents of such owners, masters,pilots or other persons, except asregards letters solely concerninggoods on board, and except asregards postal articles received forconveyance under section 43.

5. For the purposes of sections 3 and 4,unless the context otherwise requires," letter " includes a post card, a letter-card,commercial papers and any communicationwritten or printed or otherwise recorded onany material of any description whatsoever.

6. The Government shall not incur anyliability by reason of the loss, misdelivery,or delay of, or damage to, any postal articlein course of transmission by post, except inso far as such liability may in express termsbe undertaken by the Minister as hereinafterprovided ; and no officer of the post officeshall incur any liability by reason of anysuch loss, misdelivery, delay, or damage,unless he has caused the same fraudulentlyor by his v/ilful act or default.

POSTAGE

7. (1) The Minister with the Power to fixconcurrence of the Minister in charge of the rates of

postage.subject of Finance may by notification inthe Gazette, fix the rates of postage andother sums to be charged in respect ofpostal articles sent by the inland post underthis Ordinance.

Governmentprotected fromliability forlosses notcaused bywilful actor default.

Monopoly ofcarriage ofletters.

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(2) Unless and until such notification asaforesaid is issued the rates in force at thedate of the passing of this Ordinance shallbe the rates chargeable thereunder.

8. (1) The Minister may by rule-

(a) require the prepayment of postageon inland postal articles, or anyclass of inland postal articles, andprescribe the manner in whichprepayment should be made ;

(b) prescribe the postage to be chargedon inland postal articles when thepostage is not prepaid or isinsufficiently prepaid ;

(c) provide for the redirection of postalarticles and the transmission bypost of articles so redirected eitherfree of charge or subject to suchfurther charge as may be specifiedin the rules;

(d) provide for the franking of postalarticles by officers of the publicservice and members of Parliamentunder such limitations as may fromtime to time be deemed expedient;and

(e) prescribe the scale of weights, termsand conditions subject to which therates fixed for postage shall becharged.

(2) Every such rule shall be published inthe Gazette and shall have effect from thedate of such publication. Every such ruleshall, as soon as possible after suchpublication, be tabled before Parliament. IfParliament, within a period of three monthsfrom the date on which such rules are sotabled, disapproves of any such rule, suchrule shall cease to be effective with effectfrom the date of such disapproval butwithout prejudice to anything donethereunder. In the computation of the saidperiod of three months, any period duringwhich Parliament is not in session shall notbe reckoned.

9. (1) The Minister may make rulesproviding for the registration of newspapersfor transmission by inland post as registerednewspapers.

(2) For the purpose of such registrationevery publication consisting wholly or ingreat part of political or other news or ofarticles relating thereto or to other currenttopics, with or without advertisements, shallbe deemed a newspaper, subject to thefollowing conditions, namely :—

(a) that it is published in numbers atintervals of not more than thirty-one days; and

(b) that it has a bona fide list ofsubscribers.

(3) An extra or supplement to anewspaper, bearing the same date as thenewspaper and transmitted therewith, shallbe deemed to be part of the newspaper:

Provided that no such extra orsupplement shall be so deemed unless itconsists wholly or in great part of matterlike that of the newspaper, and has the titleand date of publication of the newspaperprinted at the lop of each page.

Explanation.—Nothing in this section or in the rulesmade thereunder shall be construed torender it compulsory to send newspapers bypost.

10. (1) The Minister may from time totime authorize the Postmaster-General tomake arrangements with the postalauthority of any foreign country, for all orany of the following purposes, namely :—

(a) for the transmission by post ofpostal articles between Sri Lankaand any foreign country, or throughSri Lanka or any foreign country,to or from any part of the world, asthe case may be, and for thepayment of the expenses thereof,not exceeding such sums as fromtime to time are appropriated forthe purpose by Parliament;

Power to makerules fortransmission ofregisterednewspapers.

Arrangementswith othercountriesfor thetransmission ofpostal articles.

Power to makerules.[§ 2, Law 6 of1973.]

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(b) for the fixing and collection ofpostage or other dues upon postalarticles transmitted as aforesaid ;

chargeable on his accepting delivery of thepostal article, unless he forthwith returns itunopened:

(c) for the prepayment in full, orotherwise, of the postage due onany such postal articles;

(d) for the transmission of registered,insured, and value-payable postalarticles, and the rates to be chargedtherefor;

(e) for the interchange of money ordersand postal orders, the manner inwhich and the conditions subject towhich such orders may be issuedand paid, and the rates ofcommission to be charged thereon;

(f) for the division and the mutualaccounting for and payment of themoney collected under any sucharrangement;

(g) for the granting of compensation forthe loss of postal articles or theircontents or for any damage causedto them in course of transmissionby post, and the conditions andlimitations subject to which suchcompensation may be granted.

(2) The rates and regulations existingunder any such arrangement now in forceshall continue until altered as hereinprovided.

(3) Where any arrangement under thissection is in force, the Minister may, inconformity with the provisions of sucharrangement, determine and adequatelynotify the terms, conditions andrequirements to be observed in respect ofany of the purposes specified in subsection(1) of this section.

11. (1) The addressee of a postalarticle on which postage or any other sumchargeable under this Ordinance is due shallbe bound to pay the postage or sum so

Provided that, if any such postal articleappears to the satisfaction of thePostmaster-General to have beenmaliciously sent for the purpose of annoyingthe addressee he may remit the postage.

(2) If any postal article on whichpostage or any other sum chargeable underthis Ordinance is due is refused or returnedas aforesaid, or if the addressee is dead orcannot be found, then the sender shall bebound to pay the postage or sum duethereon under this Ordinance.

12. If any person refuses to pay any Enforcement ofpostage or other sum due from him under Payment of

this Ordinance in respect of any postalarticle, the sum so due may, on applicationmade by an officer of the post officeauthorized in this behalf by the writtenorder of the Postmaster-General, berecovered for the use of the post office fromthe person so refusing, as if it were a fineimposed under this Ordinance, by anyMagistrate having Jurisdiction where thatperson may for the time being be resident;and the Postmaster-General may furtherdirect that any other postal article, notbeing on State service, addressed to thatperson shall be withheld from him until thesum so due is paid or recovered asaforesaid.

postage.

Recovery ofcustoms dutyby the postoffice.

13. When a postal article on which anyduty of customs is payable has beenreceived by post from any place beyondseas, the amount of the duty shall berecoverable as if it were postage due underthis Ordinance.

14. In every proceeding for the Rules ofrecovery of any postage or other sum evidence.

alleged to be due under this Ordinance inrespect of a postal article—

(a) the production of a postal articlehaving thereon the official mark ofthe post office denoting that the

Payment ofsurchargedpostage oninsufficientlystampedarticles.

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POST OFFICE [Cap. 520

Further rulesof evidence.

Provision ofpostage stampsand power tomake rules asto them.

article has been refused, or that theaddressee is dead or cannot befound, shall be prima facie evidenceof the fact so denoted ; and

(b) the person from whom the postalarticle purports to have come shall,until the contrary is proved, bedeemed to be the sender thereof.

15. The official mark on a postal articledenoting that any postage or other sum isdue in respect thereof to the post office ofSri Lanka, or to the post office of anyforeign country, shall be prima facieevidence that the sum denoted as aforesaidis so due.

POSTAGE STAMPS

16. (1) The Minister shall causepostage stamps to be provided of such kindsand denoting such values as he may thinknecessary for the purposes of this Ordinanceand the Minister may, if he thinks fit, causedies and franking machines for impressingpostage stamps to be provided.

(2) The Minister may make rules as tothe supply, sale, and use of postage stampsand dies and franking machines forimpressing the same.

(3) In particular and without prejudiceto the generality of the foregoing powersuch rules may—

(a) fix the price at which postage stampsshall be sold and the commission, ifany, to be allowed to persons sellingthem;

(b) declare the classes of postal articlesin respect of which postage stampsshall be used for the payment ofpostage or other sums chargeableunder this Ordinance;

(c) prescribe the conditions with regardto perforation, defacement, and

all other matters subject to whichpostage stamps may be accepted orrefused in payment of postage orother sums;

(d) regulate the custody, supply, andsale of postage stamps;

(e) declare the persons by whom, andthe terms and conditions subject towhich, postage stamps may be sold;and

(f) p r e s c r i b e the d u t i e s andremuneration of persons sellingpostage stamps.

(4) The provisions of the StampOrdinance* shall not be applicable topostage stamps.

17. Postage stamps shall be deemed tobe stamps issued by Government for thepurpose of revenue within the meaning ofthe Penal Code, and, subject to the otherprovisions of this Ordinance, shall be usedfor the prepayment of postage or other sumschargeable under this Ordinance in respectof postal articles, except where the Ministerdirects that prepayment shall be made insome other way.

CONDITIONS OF TRANSMISSION ANDDELIVERY OF POSTAL ARTICLES

18. (1) The Minister may by ruleprovide for the redelivery to the sender,without reference to the consent of theaddressee and subject to such conditions (ifany) as may be deemed fit, of any postalarticle in course of transmission by post.

(2) Save as provided by rules madeunder subsection (1), the sender shall not beentitled to recall a postal article in course oftransmission by post.

19. (1) No person shall send by postany article or thing which is likely to injurepostal articles in course of transmission bypost or any officer of the post office.

Postage stampsprotected byPenal Code.

Redelivery tosender ofpostal articlein course oftransmissionby post.

Transmissionby post ofinjurious, filthyand noxiousarticlesprohibited.

* See also the Stamp Duty Act, No. 43 of 1982.

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POST OFFICE(2) Except as otherwise provided by

rule, and subject to such conditions as maybe prescribed thereby, no person shall sendby post any explosive, dangerous, filthy,noxious, or deleterious substance, any sharpinstrument, or any living creature.

20. No person shall send by post—

(a) any indecent or obscene printing,painting, photograph, lithograph,engraving, book, or card, or anyother indecent or obscence article;or

(b) any circular or advertisementrepresenting or suggesting that anypublication or article thereinadvertised is of an indecent orobscene nature; or

(c) any postal article having thereon oron the cover thereof any words,marks, or designs of an indecent,obscene, seditious, scurrilous,threatening, or grossly offensivecharacter; or

* (d) any proposal, circular, or ticketrelating to any lottery promoted orconducted in Sri Lanka otherwisethan under a lottery licence issuedunder the Lotteries Ordinance or toany lottery promoted or conductedoutside Sri Lanka; or

(e) any circular or advertisementregarding drugs or medicinespurporting to be remedies fordiseases of the sexual organs orsexual stimulants; or

(f) any substance which may, bynotification under the ExciseOrdinance, be declared to be

be cocaine, and anyadmixture of the

deemed topreparation orsame:

Provided that the Minister may, bynotification in the Gazette, exempt anymedicinal preparation containing cocainefrom the provisions of this paragraph;

Provided further that the provisions ofthis section shall not apply when cocaine issent—

(i) to a person licensed to possess ordeal in cocaine, or

(ii) on the prescription of a registeredand qualified medical practitioneror a qualified veterinary surgeon.

21. (1) The Minister may make rulesas to the transmission by post and thedelivery of postal articles.


(a) specify articles which may not betransmitted by post;

(b) prescribe conditions on whicharticles may be transmitted by post;

(c) provide for the detention anddisposal of articles in course oft r a n s m i s s i o n b y p o s t incontravention of rules made underparagraph (a) or paragraph (b);

(d) provide for the granting of receiptsfor, and the granting and obtainingcertificates of, posting and deliveryof postal articles and the sums to bepaid in addition to any otherpostage for such receipts andcertificates;

(e) regulate covers, form, dimensions,maximum weight, and enclosures,and the use of postal articles othert h a n l e t t e r s f o r m a k i n gcommunications; and

(f) prescribe the fees to be charged forlocked bags, locked boxes, andpostal or tappal books, and theadditional postage (if any) to bepaid on articles posted incontravention of the provisions ofthis Ordinance.

Power to makerules as totransmissionby post anddelivery ofpostal articles.

Cap.520]

Transmissionby post ofanythingindecent, &c.,prohibited.

* See also section 5 (2) of the Control of Publications on Horse-racing Act.

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In publicemergenciesthe Ministermay direct theinterception ofany postalarticle.

Use offictitious andpreviously usedstampsprohibited.

subsection, it shall be delivered to thePrincipal Collector of Customs to be dealtwith under the Customs Ordinance, and thePostmaster-General shall cause notice inwriting to be forthwith sent to the addresseeadvising him of the arrival of the letter andof its transmission to the Principal Collectorof Customs, and requesting him to clear itpersonally or by agent, or to authorize thePrincipal Collector of Customs in writing toopen the letter and assess the contents forduty.

(6) The procedure h e r e i n b e f o r eprescribed shall be carried out without anyavoidable delay, but no person shall haveany right to compensation or otherwise, norshall any liability be imposed on theGovernment or on the Postmaster-Generalby reason of the opening or detention of anypostal article dealt with under the provisionsof this section.

25. (1) On the occurrence of anypublic emergency, or in the interest of thepublic safety or tranquillity, the Ministerwith the concurrence of the Minister towhom the administration of the PoliceDepartment is assigned, may by order inwriting direct that any postal article or classor description of postal articles in course oftransmission by post shall be intercepted ordetained, or shall be delivered to theGovernment or to an officer thereofmentioned in the order, to be disposed of insuch manner as the Minister may direct.

(2) If any doubt arises as to theexistence of a public emergency, or as towhether any act done under subsection (1)was in the interest of the public safety ortranquillity, a certificate signed by theInspector-General of Police shall beconclusive proof on the point.

26. (1) Where a postal article isreceived by post at any post office—

(a) bearing a fictitious postage stamp,that is to say, any facsimile orimitation or representation of apostage stamp; or

(b) purporting to be prepaid with anypostage stamp which has beenpreviously used to prepay any otherpostal article,

the officer in charge of such post office shallsend a notice to the addressee inviting himto attend, either in person or by agent,within a specified time, at the post office toreceive delivery of the postal article.

(2) If the addressee or his agent attendsat the post office within the time specified inthe notice and consents to make known tothe officer in charge of the post office thename and address of the sender of the postalarticle and to redeliver to the officeraforesaid the portion of the postal articlewhich bears the address and the fictitious orpreviously used postage stamp, or the entirepostal article if it is inseparable from thestamp, then the postal article shall bedelivered to the addressee or his agent.

(3) If the addressee or his agent fails toattend at the post office within the timespecified in the notice, or, having attendedwithin that time, refuses to make known thename and address of the sender or toredeliver the postal article or portion thereofas required by subsection (2), the postalarticle shall not be delivered to him, butshall be disposed of in such manner as theMinister may direct.

(4) For the purposes of this section theexpression " postage stamp " includes anypostage stamp for denoting any rate or dutyof postage of any foreign country.

REGISTRATION, INSURANCE ANDVALUE-PAYABLE POST

27. The sender of a postal article may, Registration ofsubject to the other provisions of this postal articles.

Ordinance, have such article registered atthe post office at which it is posted, andrequire a receipt therefor; and the Ministerwith the concurrence of the Minister incharge of the subject of Finance may, bynotification in the Gazette, direct that, in

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addition to any postage chargeable underthis Ordinance, such further fee as may befixed by the notification shall be paid onaccount of the registration of postal articles.

28. (1) The Minister may make rulesas to the registration of postal articles.


(a) declare in what cases registrationshall be required;

(b) prescribe the manner in which thefees for registration shall be paid;and

(c) direct that twice the fee forregistration shall be levied on thedelivery of a postal article requiredto be registered on which the fee forregistration has not been prepaid.

(3) Postal articles made over to the postoffice for the purpose of being registeredshall be delivered, when registered, at suchtimes and in such manner as thePostmaster-General may by order from timeto time appoint.

29. The Minister with the concurrenceof the Minister in charge of the subject ofFinance may, by notification in the Gazette,direct—

(a) that any postal article may, subjectto the other provisions of thisOrdinance, be insured at the postoffice at which it is posted againstthe risk of loss or damage in courseof transmission by post, and that areceipt therefor shall be granted tothe person posting it; and

(b) that, in addition to any postage andfees for registration chargeableunder this Ordinance, such furtherfee as may be fixed by thenotification shall be paid onaccount of the insurance of postalarticles.

30. The Minister with the concurrence Insuranceof the Minister in charge of the subject of

when to becompulsory.

Finance may, by notification in the Gazette,declare in what cases insurance shall berequired, and direct that any postal articlecontaining anything required to be insured,which has been posted without beinginsured, shall be returned to the sender orshall be delivered to the addressee, subjectto the payment of such special fee as may befixed by the notification:

Provided that the levy of such special feeas aforesaid shall not impose any liabilityupon the Government in respect of thepostal article.

31. (1) The Minister with the Power to makeconcurrence of the Minister in charge of the rules as to

insurance.subject of Finance may make rules as to theinsurance of postal articles.


(a) declare what classes of postal articlesmay be insured under section 29;

(b) fix the limit of the amount for whichpostal articles may be insured ; and

(c) prescribe the manner in which thefees for insurance shall be paid.

(3) Postal articles made over to the postoffice for the purpose of being insured shallbe delivered, when insured, at such placesand times and in such manner as thePostmaster-General may by order from timeto time appoint.

32. Subject to such conditions andrestrictions as may be by rule prescribed,the Government shall be liable to paycompensation, not exceeding the amountfor which a postal article has been insured,to the sender thereof for the loss of thepostal article or its contents, or for any

Government tobe liable forthe amountinsured.

Power to makerules as toregistration.

Insurance ofpostal articles.

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damage caused to it in course oftransmission by post:

Provided that the compensation sopayable shall in no case exceed the value ofthe article lost or the amount of the damagecaused.

33. The Minister with the concurrenceof the Minister in charge of the subject ofFinance may, by notification in the Gazette,permit of the payment of compensation forloss or damage to uninsured registeredpostal articles, and may prescribe theconditions under which such compensationmay be paid, and the limit of the amount ofsuch compensation.

34. The Minister with the concurrenceof the Minister in charge of the subject ofFinance may, by notification in the Gazette,prescribe combined rates for postage,registration and insurance.

35. The Minister with the concurrenceof the Minister in charge of the subject ofFinance may, by notification in the Gazette,direct that, subject to the other provisions ofthis Ordinance and to the payment of fees atsuch rates as may be fixed by thenotification, a sum of money specified inwriting at the time of posting by the senderof a postal article shall be recoverable onthe delivery thereof from the addressee, andthat the sum so recovered shall be paid tothe sender:

Provided that the Government shall notincur any liability in respect of the sumspecified for recovery, unless and until thatsum has been received from the addressee.

Explanation.—Postal articles -sent in accordancewith the provisions of this section may bedescribed as ** value-payable " postal articles.

36. (1) The Minister with theconcurrence of the Minister in charge of thesubject of Finance may make rules as to thetransmission by post of value-payable postalarticles.


(a) declare what classes of postal articlesmay be sent as value-payable postalarticles:

(b) limit the value to be recovered onthe delivery of any value-payablepostal article; and

(c) prescribe the form of declaration tobe made by the senders of value-payable postal articles and the timeand manner of the payment of fees.

(3) Postal articles made over to the postoffice for the purpose of being sent as" value-payable " shall be delivered, when sosent, at such times and in such manner asthe Postmaster-General may by order fromtime to time appoint.

UNDELIVERED POSTAL ARTICLES

37. (1) The Minister may make rulesas to the disposal of postal articles which forany reason cannot be delivered (hereinafterreferred to as " undelivered postal articles ").


(a) prescribe the period during whichundelivered postal articles at a postoffice shall remain in that office;

(b) provide for the publication of lists ofundelivered postal articles, or ofany class of undelivered postalarticles;

(c) provide for the manner in whichundelivered postal articles shall befinally dealt with or disposed of.

Power to makerules as topostal articleswhich cannotbe delivered.

Compensationmay be paid onuninsuredarticles.

Combinedrates forpostage,registration,and insurance.

Value-payablepostal articles.

Power to makerules as tovalue-payablepostal articles.

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POST OFFICE [Cap. 520Postal articleaddressed toany person atany bank,shipping office,&c., deemed tobe undercontrol ofPostmaster-General untildelivered toaddressee.

38. Every postal article addressed to anyperson at any bank, or at any premiseslicensed under the Excise Ordinance, or atany shipping office or public or privatelodging-house, and delivered to or receivedby the manager of such bank, or the licenseeof such premises, or the person apparentlyin charge of such office or lodging-house, oranyone acting as agent or servant of suchmanager, licensee or person, shall bedeemed to be under the control of thePostmaster-General until delivered to theperson to whom the same is addressed.

the port or place of arrival, and which iswithin the exclusive privilege conferred bysection 3, the master of such ship or thepilot or other person in charge of suchaircraft shall without delay report the fact tothe officer in charge of the post office of theport or place of arrival, as the case may be,and shall act according to any directionsissued by that officer; and the receipt ofthat officer shall discharge such master,pilot or other person from any furtherresponsibility in respect of the postal articleor mail bag referred to in the receipt.

Postal articlesaddressed toany person atany bank, &c.,if not deliveredto addressee tobe returned tonearest postoffice.

Postal articleson ships oraircraft.

39. (1) If the postal article is not sodelivered within two months after thereceipt thereof by or on behalf of suchmanager, licensee or other person asaforesaid, and if instructions to the contraryhave not been received from the addressee,the manager, licensee, or other person asaforesaid shall return the postal article tothe nearest post office, with his reasons fordoing so.

(2) Every such postal article shall onreturn to the nearest post office be dealtwith as provided by rules made undersection 37.

POSTAL ARTICLES ON SHIPSAND AIRCRAFT

40. (1) The master of every shiparriving at any port in Sri Lanka and thepilot or other person in charge of everyaircraft arriving at any place in Sri Lankashall without delay cause every postal articleor mail bag on board such ship or aircraft,as the case may be, which is directed to thatport or place and is within the exclusiveprivilege conferred on the Government bysection 3, to be delivered either at the postoffice of that port or place, or to someofficer of the post office authorized in thisbehalf by the Postmaster-General.

(2) If there is on board any ship oraircraft, referred to in subsection (1), anypostal article or mail bag which is directedto any place within Sri Lanka, other than

41. It shall be lawful for any officer ofcustoms at any port or place in Sri Lanka,who in the due execution of his duty as arevenue officer shall discover on board anyvessel or aircraft in any port or placewhatever any mail bags or postal articles inrespect of which any of the provisions ofthis Ordinance have been infringed, to seizeand forward the same to the nearest postoffice with a report of the circumstances ofsuch seizure.

42. The master or agent of every vesselwhich is about to proceed from the port ofColombo to any port beyond seas—

(a) shall give at the General Post Officeat least twenty-four hours' previousnotice in writing of the intendeddeparture of such vessel; and

(b) shall give timely written notice at theGeneral Post Office of anyalteration in the time of suchdeparture.

43, The master of a ship, not being amail ship, about to depart from any port inSri Lanka to any port within or any port orplace beyond Sri Lanka shall receive onboard any mail bag tendered to him by anyofficer of the post office for conveyance,granting a receipt therefor in such form asthe Postmaster-General shall prescribe, andshall without delay deliver the same at theport or place of destination.

Customsofficer mayseize mail bagsin respect ofwhich the lawhas beeninfringed.

Master ofvessel to givenotice of hisintendeddeparture.

Master of shipbound toreceive andconvey mailbag tendered tohim by officerof post office.

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POST OFFICE

44. The Minister with the concurrence (d)of the Minister in charge of the subject ofFinance may, by notification published inthe Gazette, declare what gratuities shall beallowed to masters of ships, not being mailships, or to pilots or other persons in chargeof aircraft, not being aircraft under contract (f)with Government for the carriage of mails,in respect of postal articles received by suchmasters, pilots or other persons forconveyance on behalf of the post office ; andthe master of any such ship, or the pilot orother person in charge of any such aircraft,which is about to leave any port or place inSri Lanka, who receives on board his shipor aircraft a mail bag for conveyance, shallbe entitled to demand and obtainimmediately the amount of the gratuitypayable in respect of the mail bag and itscontents.

MONEY AND POSTAL ORDERS

45. (1) The Minister may provide forthe remitting of money through the postoffice by means of money orders, and maymake rules as to the issue and payment ofsuch money orders:

Provided that no rule under this sectionor under section 47 prescribing the rates ofcommission or the fees to be charged onmoney orders shall be made except with theconcurrence of the Minister in charge of thesubject of Finance.


(a) prescribe the limit of amount forwhich money orders may be issued ;

(b) prescribe the period during whichmoney orders shall remain current;

(c) prescribe the rates of commission orthe fees to be charged on moneyorders or in respect thereof;

prohibit the issue and payment ofmoney and postal orders inconnexion with lotteries whetherpromoted in Sri Lanka orelsewhere;

prescribe the procedure for therecovery of money overpaid orerroneously paid to a banker inrespect of any money order andprovide for the deduction from anymoney payable to a banker inrespect of any money order of anymoney paid to that banker in excessof what ought to have been paid tohim in respect of any other moneyorder.

46. (1) Subject to such conditions as Power forthe Minister, with the concurrence of the remitter to

Minister in charge of the subject of Finance order or alteras regards rates of commission, may by name of payee.

rules made under section 45 prescribe inrespect of the levy of additional rates ofcommission or fees or any other matters, aperson remitting money through the postoffice by means of a money order mayrequire that the amount of the order, if notpaid to the payee, be repaid to him, or bepaid to such person other than the originalpayee as he may direct.

(2) If neither the payee nor the remitterof a money order can be found, and ifwithin the period of one year from the dateof the issue of the order no claim is made bysuch payee or remitter, the amount of suchorder shall not be claimable from theGovernment.

47. The Minister, with the concurrence Issue of postalof the Minister in charge of the subject of orders.

Finance as regards rates of commission,may authorize the issue, in such form asmay be suitable, of money orders, to becalled postal orders or by such otherdesignation as may be deemed appropriate,and may make rules as to the rates ofcommission to be charged thereon, and themanner in which and conditions subject towhich they may be issued, paid, andcancelled:

Provided that no such order shall beissued for an amount in excess of twentyrupees.

Cap.520]

Gratuities to begiven for theconveyance ofmails.

Issue andpayment ofmoney orders.

XVI/14

Pramod N Hettihewa

recall money

POST OFFICE

PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE; delivered a postal article, which he has notvisited or delivered, shall be punishable withimprisonment of either description for aterm which may extend to six months, orwith fine which may extend to one hundredrupees, or with both.

55. Whoever, being an officer of the Theft by officerpost office, commits theft in respect of, or of the post• f ' office.dishonestly misappropriates, or for anypurpose whatsoever secretes, destroys, orthrows away, any postal article in course oftransmission by post or anything containedtherein, shall be punishable withimprisonment of either description for aterm which may extend to seven years, andshall also be punishable with fine.

OFFENCES BY OFFICERS OF THEPOST OFFICE

52. Whoever, being employed to carryor deliver any mail bag or any postal articlein course of transmission by post—

(a) is in a state of intoxication while soemployed; or

(b) is guilty of carelessness or othermisconduct, whereby the safety ofany such mail bag or postal articleas aforesaid is endangered ; or

(c) loiters or makes delay in theconveyance or delivery of any suchmail bag or postal article asaforesaid ; or

56. Whoever, being an officer of thepost office, contrary to his duty, opens orcauses or suffers to be opened any postalarticle in course of transmission by post, orwilfully detains or delays, or causes orsuffers to be detained or delayed, any suchpostal article, shall be punishable withimprisonment of either description for aterm which may extend to two years, orwith fine, or with both :

Provided that nothing in this section shallextend to the opening, detaining, ordelaying of any postal article under theauthority of this Ordinance, or in obedienceto the order in writing of the Minister, orthe direction of a competent court.

(d) does not use due care and diligencesafely to convey or deliver any suchmail bag or postal article asaforesaid,

shall be punishable with fine which mayextend to fifty rupees, and in default ofpayment with imprisonment of eitherdescription not exceeding three months.

53. Whoever, being employed to carryor deliver any mail bag or any postal articlein course of transmission by post,voluntarily withdraws from the duties of hisoffice without permission or without havinggiven one month's previous notice inwriting, shall be punishable withimprisonment of either description whichmay extend to one month, or with finewhich may extend to fifty rupees, or withboth.

57. Whoever, being an officer of the Offences inpost office- • official marks.

(a) fraudulently puts any wrong officialmark on a postal article ; or

(b) fraudulently alters, removes, orcauses to disappear any officialmark which is on a postal article;or

(c) being entrusted with the delivery ofany postal article, knowinglydemands or receives any sum of

54. Whoever, being employed to carryor deliver any postal article in course oftransmission by post and required while soemployed to keep any register, makes orcauses or suffers to be made any false entryin the register with intent to induce thebelief that he has visited a place, or

XVI/16

Unlawfulopening anddetention ofpostal articlesby officer ofthe post office.

Cap.520]

Offences bypersonsemployed tocarry or deliverany mail bagor postalarticle.

Personemployed tocarry or deliverany mail bagor postalarticleprohibitedfromwithdrawingfrom dutieswithout notice.

Punishmentof personemployed tocarry or deliverany postalarticle formaking falseentry.

Pramod N Hettihewa

respect of


Fraudulentlyaltering ordestroying adocument.

Reissuing apostal orderpreviouslypaid.

money in respect of the postagethereof which is not chargeableunder this Ordinance,

shall be punishable with imprisonment ofeither description for a term which mayextend to two years, and shall also bepunishable with fine.

58. Whoever, being an officer of thepost office, entrusted with the preparing orkeeping of any document, f r audu len t lyprepares the document incorrectly, or altersor secretes or destroys the document, shallbe punishable with imprisonment of eitherdescription for a term which may extend totwo years, and shall also be punishable withfine.

59. Whoever, being an officer of thepost office, reissues a postal orderpreviously paid shall be deemed to haveissued such order with intent to defraud,and shall be punishable with imprisonmentof either description for a term which mayextend to two years, or with fine, or withboth.

60. Whoever, being an officer of thepost office, sends by post or puts into anymail bag any postal article upon whichpostage has not been paid or charged in themanner prescribed by this Ordinance,intending thereby to defraud theGovernment of the postage on such postalarticle, shall be punishable withimprisonment of either description for aterm which may extend to two years, andshall also be punishable with fine.

OTHER OFFENCES

Other offences. 61. Whoever—

(a) conveys, otherwise than by post, aletter within the exclusive privilegeconferred on the Government bysection 3; or

(b) performs any service incidental toconveying otherwise than by post

DefraudingGovernmentof postage.

any letter within the exclusiveprivilege aforesaid; or

(c) sends or tenders or delivers in orderto be sent, otherwise than by post, aletter within the exclusive privilegeaforesaid ; or

(d) makes a collection of such letters asare referred to in paragraphs (a), (b)and (c) of subsection (1) of section 3for the purpose of sending themotherwise than by post,

shall be punishable with fine which mayextend to fifty rupees for every such letter,and in default of payment withimprisonment of either description notexceeding three months.

62. Whoever, having already beenconvicted of an offence under section 61, isagain convicted thereunder, shall, on everysuch subsequent conviction, be punishablewith fine which may extend to five hundredrupees, and in default of payment withimprisonment of either description notexceeding six months.

63. (1) Whoever, in contravention ofthe provisions of section 4, carries, receives,tenders, or delivers letters, or collects letters,shall be punishable with fine which mayextend to fifty rupees for every such letter,and in default of payment withimprisonment of either description whichmay extend to three months.

(2) Whoever, having already beenconvicted of an offence under this section, isagain convicted thereunder shall, on everysuch subsequent conviction, be punishablewith fine which may extend to five hundredrupees, and in default of payment withimprisonment of either description whichmay extend to six months.

64. Whoever being appointed to sellpostage stamps—

(a) takes from any purchaser for anypostage stamp or quant i ty of

Enhancedpunishmenton personpreviouslyconvicted.

Carrying, &c.,letters incontraventionof section 4an offence.

Offences byvendors ofpostagestamps.

XVI/17


Punishment foroffences incontraventionof sections 19and 20.

Offencesrelating toletter-boxes.

postage stamps a price higher thanthat fixed by any rule made undersection 16 (3) (a) shall bepunishable with imprisonment ofeither description for a term whichmay extend to six months, or withfine which may extend to onehundred rupees, or with both; or

(b) commits a breach of any other rulemade under section 16 shall bepunishable with fine which mayextend to one hundred rupees, andin default of payment withimprisonment of either descriptionwhich may extend to six months,

65. (1) Whoever, in contravention ofthe provisions of section 19 or section 20,sends or tenders or makes over in order tobe sent by post any postal article oranything, shall be punishable withimprisonment of either description for aterm which may extend to one year, or withfine, or with both.

(2) The detention in the post office ofany postal article on the ground of itshaving been sent in contravention of theprovisions of section 19 or section 20 shallnot exempt the sender from any proceedingswhich might have been taken if the postalarticle had been delivered in due course ofpost:

Provided that no prosecution for acontravention of section 20 (c) shall beinstituted without the previous sanction ofthe Attorney-General.

66. Whoever places in or against anyletter-box provided by the post office for thereception of postal articles any fire, match,or light, any explosive, dangerous, filthy,noxious, or deleterious substance, or anyfluid, or commits a nuisance in or againstany such letter-box, or does anything likelyto injure any such letter-box or itsappurtenances or contents, shall bepunishable with imprisonment of eitherdescription for a term which may extend toone year, or with fine, or with both.

67. Whoever, without due authority, Punishment foraffixes any placard, advertisement, notice, disfiguring a

list, document, board, or other thing in or letter-box.on, or paints, tars, or in any way disfiguresany post office or any letter-box providedby the post office for the reception of postalarticles, shall be punishable with fine whichmay extend to fifty rupees, and in default ofpayment with imprisonment of eitherdescription which may extend to threemonths.

68. Whoever, being required by thisOrdinance to make a declaration in respectof any postal article to be sent by post orthe contents or value thereof, makes in hisdeclaration any statement which he knowsor has reason to believe to be false, or doesnot believe to be true, shall be punishablewith fine which may extend to two hundredrupees, and in default of payment withimprisonment of either description whichmay extend to three months, and if the falsedeclaration is made for the purpose ofdefrauding the Government, with fine whichmay extend to five hundred rupees, and indefault of payment with imprisonment ofeither description which may extend to sixmonths.

Whoever—

being the master of a ship, fails tocomply with the provisions ofsection 43; or

being the master of a ship, or thepilot or other person in charge ofan aircraft, without reasonableexcuse, the burden of provingwhich shall lie on him, fails todeliver any postal article or mailbag or to make a report to, or tocomply with the directions of, theofficer in charge of the post officeat a port or place of arrival asrequired by section 40,

(b)

shall be punishable with a fine which mayextend to five hundred rupees.

Punishment formaking falsedeclarations.

Offences bymasters ofships andpilots, &c.,in charge ofaircraft.

XVI/18

Pramod N Hettihewa

post office or


Punishment ofmaster forretaining postalarticles.

Punishment forwrongfuldetention ofmails.

Punishment forfraudulentretention ofor refusal todeliver postalarticles.

70. (1) Whoever, being the master ofany ship arriving at any port in Sri Lanka,or the pilot or other person in charge of anyaircraft arriving at any place in Sri Lanka,or being a person on board any such ship oraircraft, knowingly has in his baggage or inhis possession or custody, after all or any ofthe postal articles on board such ship oraircraft have been sent to the post office atthe port or place of arrival, any postalarticle which is within the exclusive privilegeconferred on the Government by section 3,shall be punishable with a fine which mayextend to fifty rupees for every such postalarticle as aforesaid.

(2) Whoever, being such master, pilot orother person as aforesaid, detains any suchpostal article as aforesaid after demandmade for it by an officer of the post office,shall be punishable with fine which mayextend to one hundred rupees for every suchpostal article.

71. Whoever, except under the authorityof this Ordinance or in obedience to theorder in writing of the Minister or thedirection of a competent court, detains anypostal article in course of transmission bypost or any officer of the post office orvehicle carrying mail bags or postal articles,or on any pretence opens a mail bag incourse of transmission by post, shall bepunishable with fine which may extend totwo hundred rupees, and in default ofpayment with imprisonment of eitherdescription which may extend to threemonths:

Provided that nothing in this section shallprevent the detention of an officer of thepost office carrying any mail bag or anypostal article in course of transmission bypost on a charge of having committed anoffence declared to be cognizable by theCode of Criminal Procedure Act, or anyother law for the time being in force ;

Provided, further, that any mail bag maybe detained or opened under the writtenauthority of the Postmaster-General.

72. Whoever fraudulently retains, orwilfully secretes or makes away with, orkeeps or detains, or when required by anofficer of the post office neglects or refusesto deliver up, any postal article in course of

transmission by post which ought to havebeen delivered to any other person, or amail bag containing a postal article, shall bepunishable with imprisonment of eitherdescription for a term which may extend totwo years, and shall also be punishable withfine.

73. Any licensee or other personreferred to in section 38 who omits or failsto return any postal article as required bysection 39 shall be liable to a penalty notexceeding fity rupees, and in default ofpayment to imprisonment of eitherdescription which may extend to threemonths.

74. Whoever, not being an officer of thepost office, wilfully and maliciously, withintent to injure any person, either opens orcauses to be opened any letter which oughtto have been delivered, or does any actwhereby the due delivery of a letter to anyperson is prevented or impeded, shall bepunishable with imprisonment of eitherdescription for a term which may extend tosix months, or with fine which may extendto five hundred rupees, or with both :

Provided that nothing in this section shallapply to a person who does any act to whichthe section applies, if he is a parent, or inthe position of a parent or guardian, of theaddressee, and the addressee is a minor or award.

75. Whoever reveals, discloses, or in anyway makes known the contents of anypostal article opened under the authority ofthis Ordinance, except so far as may benecessary for the purpose of returning thesame or so far as may be authorized by thePostmaster-General in writing, shall beliable to a fine not exceeding two hundredrupees, or to imprisonment of eitherdescription not exceeding twelve months, orto both.

76. (1) It shall not be lawful for anyperson to—

(a) make, knowingly utter, deal in, orsell any fictitious stamp, orknowingly use for any purpose anyfictitious stamp; or

Offences bylicensees,banks, &c.

Punishment forunlawfullyopening letters.

Punishment forunlawfullydisclosingcontents of apostal article.

Manufactureand unlawfulpossession offictitiouspostagestamps.

XVI/19


(h) have in his possession, unless heshows a lawful excuse, any fictitiousstamp; or

(c) make, or, unless he shows a lawfulexcuse, have in his possession anydie, plate, instrument, or materialsfor making any fictitious stamp.

( 2 ) A n y p e r s o n w h o a c t s incontravention of the preceding subsectionshall be guilty of an offence, and liable onconviction to a fine not exceeding twohundred rupees, or to simple or rigorousimprisonment for a term not exceeding twoyears, or to both.

(3) Any stamp, die, plate, instrument, ormaterials found in the possession of anyperson in contravention of this section maybe seized and shall be forfeited to the State.

(4) The Postmaster-General or anypostmaster may detain (if necessary) anypostal packet found in the post containingor bearing any fictitious stamp. Any postalpacket so detained may be either returnedor given up to the sender thereof, or dealtwith or disposed of in such other manner asmay be authorized by the Postmaster-General.

(5) Nothing in this section shall affectthe enactments contained in sections 248 to256 of the Penal Code.

(6) For the purposes of this section" fictitious stamp " means any facsimile orimitation or representation, whether onpaper or otherwise, of any stamp fordenoting any rate of postage, including anystamp for denoting a rate or duty of postageof any foreign country, and includes anysuch facsimile or imitation or representationof an international reply coupon.

76A. Whoever without lawful authority(the proof of which authority shall be on theaccused) makes the official inscription onany mail bag shall be punishable withimprisonment of either description for aterm not exceeding six months, or with afine not exceeding one thousand rupees, orwith both such imprisonment and fine.

Punishment foralteration,defacement orobliteration of,or causing todisappear, theofficialinscription onany mail bag.[§ 3, 24 of1957.]

Punishment forreceiving,possessing,keeping, sellingor delivering,without lawfulexcuse, anymail bagbearing officialinscription.[§ 3, 24 of1957.]

76B. Whoever, with intent to concealthat any mail bag is the property of the postoffice, alters, defaces, obliterates or causesto disappear the official inscription on thatmail bag shall be punishable withimprisonment of either description for aterm not exceeding six months or with afine not exceeding one thousand rupees, orwith both such imprisonment and fine.

76C. (1) Whoever without lawfulexcuse (the proof of which excuse shall beon the accused) receives, possesses, keeps,sells or delivers any mail bag bearing theofficial inscription shall be punishable withimprisonment of either description for aterm not exceeding six months, or with afine not exceeding one thousand rupees, orwith both such imprisonment and fine.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), amail bag shall be deemed to be in thepossession or keeping of any person if heknowingly has it in the actual possession orkeeping of any other person or in anybuilding or place whether occupied by himor not, and whether it is so had for his ownuse or benefit or for the use or benefit ofanother.

77. Whenever any person shall be guiltyof an offence under this Ordinance, thepunishment of which is a fine not exceedingtwo hundred rupees, it shall be lawful forthe Postmaster-General to accept paymenton behalf of the State from such offender ofsuch sum of money as may to thePostmaster-General seem fit, not exceedingthe highest amount of fine to which suchoffender would have been liable onconviction, and no person having made suchpayment shall be thereafter prosecuted forthe same offence.

78. It shall be lawful for any court Reward tobefore which an offender is convicted under informer.

this Ordinance to direct that any share, notexceeding one-half, of any fine actuallyrecovered shall be paid to the informer.

79. Whoever abets the commission of Punishment ofany offence punishable under this abetment of

offences.Ordinance, or attempts to commit anyoffence so punishable, shall be punishablewith the punishment provided for thatoffence.

Power ofPostmaster-General tocompoundcertainoffences.

Punishment formakingwithout lawfulauthority theofficialinscription onany mail bag.[§ 3, 24 of1957.]

XVI/20


Description ofpostal articlesin criminalcharges.

Penalty forbreach of rules.

Trial ofoffences.

[§ 4, 24 of1957.]

Officers of postoffice to beexempt fromserving on anyjury.

80. In every prosecution for an offencein respect of a mail bag or of any postalarticle sent by post it shall be sufficient forthe purpose of the charge to describe themail bag or postal article as being theproperty of the post office, and it shall notbe necessary to prove that the mail bag orpostal article was of any value.

81. Whoever does any act incontravention of, or fails to comply with,any rule made under this Ordinance, for thebreach of which no penalty is speciallyprovided, shall be punishable with finewhich may extend 10 fifty rupees, and indefault of payment with imprisonment ofeither description which may extend to onemonth.

82. (1) Offences under this Ordinancewhich, by reason of the amount of thepenalties with which they are punishable,are not within the summary jurisdiction of aMagistrate's Court, may be tried in the HighCourt:

Provided that if the Attorney-Generalcertifies that any such offence may beprosecuted before a Magistrate's Court, itshall be competent for such court to takecognizance of the offence and to award inrespect thereof so much of the punishmentassigned thereto as Magistrates* Courts areempowered by law to award.

(2) No court shall take cognizance of anoffence punishable under any of theprovisions of sections 54, 56, 57 paragraphs(a) and (b), 58,59,60,61,62,63,65,68,69,70, 71, 76, 76A, 76B, 76c and 81 of thisOrdinance, unless upon complaint made byorder of, or under authority from, thePostmaster-General.

GENERAL

83. No officer of the post office inreceipt of any salary from the revenues ofSri Lanka shall be liable to serve on anyjury or as an assessor in any criminal or civilproceedings.

84. No officer of the post office inreceipt of any salary from the revenues ofSri Lanka shall be a contractor, or have anyinterest in any contract for carrying mailbags or postal articles, or act as agent, withor without remuneration, for any contractoror person offering to become a contractor tothe post office; and no such officer shallcollect postage stamps, or have any interestwhatever in the collection of postagestamps. Any person acting contrary to theprovisions of this section shall be liable tobe forthwith dismissed, and to pay to thePostmaster-General on account of theGovernment all such money as such personmay have directly or indirectly realized bymeans of such contract or agency, or bymeans of any collection of postage stamps,and any postage stamps collected by suchofficer shall be forfeited to the Government.

85. The Minister may, by Notificationpublished in the Gazette, authorize eitherabsolutely or subject to conditions, thePostmaster-General to exercise any of thepowers conferred on the Minister by thisOrdinance.

86. In addition to the powers in thisOrdinance mentioned, the Minister maymake rules to carry out any of the purposesand objects of this Ordinance.

Officers of thepost officeprohibitedfrom takingpostalcontracts andfrom collectingpostagestamps.

Minister maydelegate certainpowers to thePostmaster-General.

Further powerof Minister tomake rules.

*88. In this Ordinance, unless there is interpretation.anything repugnant in the subject orcontext—

" aircraft" includes all balloons, whetherfixed or free, kites, gliders, airships,airplanes and other flyingmachines;

" inland" used in relation to a postalarticle means posted in Sri Lanka;

" mail bag " includes a bag, box, parcel,or any other envelope or coveringin which postal articles in course oftransmission by post are conveyed,whether it does or does not containany such article;

" mail ship " means a ship employed forcarrying mails, pursuant to contractor continuing arrangements by the

* Section 87 is omitted, as it is a transitional provision.

XVI/21


Government of Sri Lanka or theGovernment of any foreigncountry;

" master of a vessel" means the person forthe time being having or taking thecharge or command of a vessel, butdoes not include the pilot;

" officer of the post office " includes anyperson employed in any business ofthe post office or on behalf of thepost office;

" postage " means the duty chargeable forthe transmission by post of postalarticles;

" postage stamp" means any stampprovided by the Minister fordenoting postage or other fees orsums payable in respect of postalarticles under this Ordinance, andincludes adhesive postage stampsand envelopes, cards, wrappers, andother articles on which postage

stamps are printed, embossed,impressed, or otherwise indicatedand any impression denoting thatpostage has been paid made by astamping die or franking machineauthorized by the Minister;

" postal article" includes a letter,postcard, newspaper, parcel, andevery article or thing transmissibleby post;

" Postmaster-General" means thePostmaster-General of Sri Lanka,and includes the AssistantPostmaster-General;

" post office" includes every house,building, room, carriage, or placeused for the purposes of the postoffice, and every letter-boxprovided by the post office for thereception of postal articles;

" the post office " means the departmentp r e s i d e d o v e r b y t h ePostmaster-General.

XVI/22

Documents

POST OFFICE [Cap