Sri Lanka postal service has a long history of 209 years, dating back to 1798 when the colonial Dutch rulers started 5 post offices in the Maritime Districts that were under their control. In 1799 they published of first ever postal regulations and postage rates. The East-India Company operated the postal service the Dutch started and was not meant for the public but for the official use.

In 1815, the British took control of the country. They reorganize the postal service and a
permanent post office was established in Colombo in 1882. The first Post Master General of
Ceylon was Mr. A. Kennedy an Air Amy Officer. The third Post Master General was Major. G. Stewart and during his period he was instrumental in extending the postal services to major towns in the country. Ceylon Post and Telecommunications Department as it was known then has many a first to its credit.

Ceylon was the first to inaugurate a mail coach service in Asia between Colombo and Kandy the service began.

The operations in 1832 and in 1838 another mail coach service was started between Galle and Colombo.

The year 1892 saw the first “Travelling Post Office” doing its run between Colombo and
Peradeniya. Over the years different modes of transport has been used for the transportation and delivery of mail.

Delivery of post in the bygone era was first by foot, then bicycles were added. During the 50’s and 60’s postmen on British made BSA- Bantam motor cycles were a familiar sight. With the postman’s beat becoming smaller in cities the motor cycles gave way to the bicycles. Transportation of mails is done by railway. Public and private omni buses and a fleet of vehicles of the Postal Department.

Ceylon joined the Universal Postal Union on 1st April 1877. On the 1st April, 1857 the first
stamp was issued in Penny denominations, five years after the British introduced the postage stamp to the world. The first stamps to be issued in local denominations of rupees and cents was on 1st February, 1892.

The General Post Office which was housed in different places in Colombo. In 1895 acquired its own building opposite the Governor General’s official residence – The King’s house, on King’s Street. With the disturbances in the country the GPO was moved out of the building and finally has got its permanent place at the present new Postal Headquarters. The new building is the center of operations and administration consisting of 9 floors of modern facilities.