The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a resolution to repeal a previous decision to transfer the historic Nuwara Eliya Post Office building and its premises to the Urban Development Authority (UDA) for redevelopment aimed at boosting tourism and revenue generation.
The earlier decision, taken under the previous administration on 29 April 2024, had proposed handing over the post office to the UDA to renovate and repurpose the site as a tourist attraction. However, the move faced widespread opposition from postal employees, civil society organizations, and the general public, who expressed concerns about the loss of a vital public service and the preservation of heritage.
In response to the backlash, the government has now decided to retain the building under the Department of Posts for its original postal functions, while also exploring ways to integrate tourism promotion activities within the existing framework.
Accordingly, the Cabinet granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to cancel the earlier transfer to the UDA and instead develop a dual-purpose project that respects both heritage value and economic potential of the location.
