Name of the Organization : Sri Lanka Post
Type of Facility : Issue & Payments of Money Orders
Country : Sri Lanka
Website : http://www.slpost.gov.lk/
Related : Sri Lanka Post Express Mail Service Speed Post : www.statusin.org/3158.html
Issue & Payments of Money Orders :
A “Money Order” is an order granted by the Post Office for the payment of a sum of money through the agency of the Post Office. A “Remitter” is the person who sends the money; and a “Payee” is the person named to whom the money is to be paid.
The maximum amount for which a Money Order can be issued is Rs. 25000.
Money Order Offices in Sri Lanka :
The Post Offices and Sub-Post Offices in Sri Lanka at which Money Orders are issued and paid are indicated in the Table of Offices in Part II, Section 8.
The Issue of Maximum Amount of a Money Order :
The maximum amount for which a Money Order can be issued, for payment in other countries and places is given in the Foreign Money Order and Postal Order Services Section.
Minimum Amount of a Money Order :
The minimum amount for which an order can be issued is one cent and in the case of Telegraph Money Orders is one rupee. Except in the case of Telegraph Money Orders no order can include the fractional part of the minimum.
Issue of Money Orders :
Application Form :
The remitter of a Money Order must write in ink on an Application Form which will be supplied gratis at any Post Office the necessary entries it English, Sinhalese or Tamil in the case of orders and in English it the case of Indian and Foreign orders. If the remitter desires that the order should be crossed by the Post Office, for payment through a Bank, they should cross the application for such Money Order.
Name of Payee :
The name of the payee must be entered with such completeness as shall secure identification and prevent risk of fraud, and should include the surname; and if the Christian names are not known, at least the initials letter of one Christian name. The occupation, rank, trade or profession of the payee, and any other particulars calculated to help in identifying hire should be added. The name of only one person may be entered as payee except in the case of a firm, company, or society, whose usual designation must be given. If the payee is a Sinhalese, his ge name, if he has one should be given. If he belongs to any other Eastern race, his father’s name should be given; and if he is a native of India, his tribe or caste should be stated in addition.
Address of Payee :
When an order is payable in a country or place out of Sri Lanka, the full address of the payee must be given, in order to ensure correct delivery : the order. In the case of orders deliverable in towns, the name of the street’ and the number or name of the house should invariably be stated.
Mode of obtaining a Money Order :
The application duly filled in, together with the amount of the Money Order and commission, must be presented at the Post Office during the prescribed hours for Money Order business.
Issue of Money Orders :
The remitter will be given the Money Order, which he must forward to the payee, taking care that the particulars entered on the order have been correctly filled in, and that it is signed and date stamped by the official who issues it. When sending the Money Order to the payee, the remitter should inform him of the names of the remitter and payee as entered on the Application Form.
Payment through a Bank :
A Money Order may be crossed; it may be crossed generally by the addition on its face of two parallel transverse lines or of the words “and company” or any abbreviation thereof between two parallel transverse lines; it may be crossed specially by the addition on its face the name of a banker, in which case the order shall be deemed to be cross to that banker.
** A Money Order which is crossed generally may be cross specially.
** A banker to whom a Money Order is crossed may again, cross it specially to another banker as his agent for collection.
** Where a Money Order is crossed generally, a Postmaster shall refuse to pay any money in respect of such Money Order except to banker.
** Where a Money Order is crossed specially, a Postmaster shall refuse to pay any money in respect of such Money Order except the banker to whom it is crossed, or to his agent for collect on.
** Where a Money Order is crossed specially to more than one banker, except when crossed to an agent for the purpose of collection Postmaster shall refuse to pay any money in respect of such Money Order
Payments Of Money Orders :
Requirements for Payment of a Money Order (otherwise than to Banker) :
** When a Money Order is presented for payment the person presenting the Order must give the name of the remitter, and, if required produce evidence to the satisfaction of the Postmaster, that he is the payee such Order or a person duly authorized by the payee to receive the amount of the Order.
** A receipt for the amount of the Order shall be signed by the pay( or by some person duly authorized to sign such receipt on his behalf.
** When an Order is made payable to a firm, company or society, the receipt shall be signed by some person duly authorized to sign on behalf, of the firm, company or society as the case may be, and the name of the firm, company or society shall also be stamped or written in the space s apart for the receipt in the Order. A receipt so completed shall be a value discharge to the Postmaster General for the amount of the Order.
** When for any reason the payee of a Money Order is unable attend in person, and sends the order by an agent to the Post Office of payment, such order should be properly signed by the payee and the Postmaster may require a letter authorizing payment to the agent, whose name should be mentioned. The name of the remitter must also be stated in the letter. An endorsement on the back of the order with the above authority and information will suffice in cases where no letter is sent. the Postmaster is satisfied that all is in order, payment may be made to the agent, who should also be required to sign the order when taking over the cash.
** If the payee or his agent is illiterate, it will be necessary to affix his thumb impression on the Money Order in the presence of both the Paying Officer and a witness, whose signature must be obtained on the order. If the payee or his agent signs his name in other than English, Sinhalese or Tamil characters, the paying officer may require in his presence the thumb impression of the payee or his agent on the order in addition to his signature.
Requirements for Payment of a Money Order to a Banker :
** Money Orders payable at a Money Order Office in Sri Lanka may be presented for payment by a banker either at the office of payment or at the Money Order Office in Colombo or at any Office at which the payment of Money Orders presented by a banker may from time to time be authorized by the Postmaster General.
** Where a Money Order is presented by or on behalf of a banker, the name of that banker written or stamped, by a way of crossing or otherwise, upon the face of the Order, shall be a valid discharge to the Postmaster General for the amount of such Order, and it shall not be necessary for such banker to give any information as to the remitter. This however does not preclude the necessity for each money order to be receipted by the payee before presentation as required by paragraphs (2) and (3) of the preceding rule.
** Where a Money Order has been presented for payment by a banker and payment in respect of that Order has been made to such banker, and it is afterwards discovered that such payment should not have been made to such banker, the amount so paid may be deducted from any moneys which may thereafter become payable to such banker for or on account or in respect of Post Office Money Orders and no objection shall be taken by any banker to such deduction.
Refusal of Payment on Presentation :
If payment of an order be refused in consequence of the remitter’s name not being furnished correctly, or in consequence of the signature on the order not corresponding with the entry on the advice, the applicant for payment should communicate with the remitter, and request him to apply, if necessary, to the Issuing Postmaster to have any correction which may be required made in the order.
Funds at the Office of Payment :
Payment of an order is subject to the possession by the Postmaster of the Paying Office of sufficient funds, and delay is possible, especially in the case of orders for large amounts drawn on small offices.
Payment through a Bank :
A payee may direct that all his Money Orders may be crossed at the Office of Payment, in order to secure the communication of the remitter’s name. This direction must be given in writing by the payee to the Office of Payment.
Period of Validity of a Money Order :
At the end of six months after that in which it was issued a Money Order, if still unpaid, is legally void. If a claim is made within six months of the date on which the order ceased to be valid, the amount of the order shall be paid subject to the payment of a second commission equivalent to that paid at the time of issue. Claims may also be entertained undo exceptional circumstances within the second year of issue, subject to the payment of a commission equivalent to 5 per cent of the face value of the order or 20 cents whichever amount is higher.
No claim will be entertained after two years from the last day of the month of issue.
Liability for wrong Payment :
After once paying a Money Order, by whomsoever presented, the Postmaster General is not legally liable to any further claim, nor is he liable to pay compensation for loss or injury arising out of delay in payment of a Money Order, or out of any other irregularity in connection with a order.