ven though laws for protecting child rights are enacted, our responsibility as adults is to protect child rights and give the chance to the children to be good citizens in the future. The international labor organization (ILO) has declared international theme of “No to child Labour, yes to quality education” this year. |
| * Date of Issue : 24th September, 2015 * Denomination : Rs. 5.00 * Stamp Designer : D.G. Sudath Jayawardena * Stamp Size :60mm * 30mm * Format : Horizontal * Printing Process : Offset Lithography * Sheet Composition : 20 stamps per sheet |
* Perforation : 13 3/4 * 14 * Printers : Department of Government Printing, Sri Lanka * Color : 4 Process Colors * Paper : 102 gsm security stamp paper * Gum : PVA * Quantity Printed : 500,000 * Last Date of Sale : 23rd September, 2016 |
Sri Lanka is world renowned for her gemstones, particularly for her bountiful supply of multi-colored sapphires, which have been widely acclaimed in literary works throughout the ages dating from as far back as 250 B.C.
Out of about 200 varieties of gemstones found in the world, Sri Lanka is host to over 70 varieties. Besides Rubies and Sapphires, Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eyes and Alexandrites, Moonstones, Aquamarines, Tourmalines, Spinel, Topaz, Garnets, Amethyst and zircons, a wide variety of other gemstones are found in Sri Lanka. Blue Sapphire, also referred to as “Ceylon Sapphire” is the king of Sri Lanka gems. Three of the best known sapphires are the 392 carat Blue Sapphire named “Blue Belle of Asia” which sold for US$ 17.3 million recently, the beautiful 563 carat star sapphire misnamed the “Star of India” which is displayed at the American Museum of Natural History in New York city and the 104 carat Stuart Sapphire which is owned by Queen Elizabeth II of England. Sri Lanka also has a rich history and tradition of jewelry and jewelry making, evidenced by the intricate pieces on display at the national museum in Colombo including jewels dating back to the Reign of King Kashyapa in the 5th Century. Today, a modern and vibrant jewelry manufacturing industry caters to discerning tourists and sophisticated exports markets. The industry employs over 500,000 persons including miners, dealers, gem cutters, designers, jewelry craftsmen product from Sri Lanka, accounting for about US$384 million or 4% of national export revenues in year 2014. The industry is a vital component of our export economy and an important source of employment and foreign exchange generation. The most important event in the industry calendar, the 'facets' Sri Lanka international gem and jewelry exhibition which is held annually to showcase the rich heritage and spectacular product range available in Sri Lanka, will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary in September 2015. |
| * Date of Issue : 03rd September, 2015 * Denomination : Rs. 10.00, Rs. 25.00, Rs. 35.00, Rs. 50.00 * Stamp Designer : Rs. 10, Rs. 35, Rs. 50 Pulasthi Ediriweera, Rs. 25 Sanath Rohana Wickramasinghe * Stamp Size : 30mm * 41mm * Format : Vertical * Printing Process : Offset Lithography * Sheet Composition : 20 stamps per sheet * Perforation : 14 * 13 1/2 |
* Printers : Department of Government Printing, Sri Lanka * Color : 4 Process Colors with Gold or Silver(Five) * Paper : 102 gsm security stamp paper with fiber * Gum : PVA * Quantity Printed : 1,000,000 each Souvernir Sheets : 15,000 * Catalogue No : Rs. 10 - CSL 2116, Rs. 25 -CSL 2117, Rs. 35 - CSL 2118, Rs. 50 - CSL 2119 * Last Date of Sale : 02nd September, 2016 |
Various facets of the Sri Lankan history beginning from the pre-historic era until the Polonnaru period were depicted by these series of stamps on the theme of Sri Lanka in the past consisting of 21 stamps with first of the series depicting the Pre-Historic Era, the second series depicting the Early Historic Period and the Early Anuradhapura Period, the third series depicting the Post-Anuradhapura Period and the fourth series depicting the Polonnaru Period. The end of the Polonnary period started with the invasion of Kalinga Magha and with that the Sri Lankan kingdom which was centered round the Raja Rata till then began to shift towards the south-western region. The kingdoms that existed thereafter as that of Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa, Kurunegala and Gampola respectively did not last long and due to that very reason the archaeological evidence left from those periods too is very scanty.
The Dambadeniya Period Dembadeniya was the first centre of administration after the shifting of the kingdom towards the south-western region. It was king Vijayabaju III “1232 AD-1272 AD” who made Dambadeniya his kingdom and after him his elder son Parakramabahu II “1236 AD-1270 AD” ascended the throne. Being a poet of great repute, he was awarded the honorary title of Kalikala- Sahitya- Sarvajna- Pandita. His successor Vijayabahu IV “1271 AD-1272 AD” could not retain the throne for long. There are two slabs of stone known as Vira Gal fixed to the front wall of the Tempita image house of Dambadeniya Vijayasundararama Raja Maha Vihara where there are several bas-relief carvings. The stamp depicts one of those carvings. The Yapahuwa Period Before the emergence of the Yapahuwa kingdom, the area around the rock of Yapahu existed as an administrative centre and the Kingdom of Yapahuwa was established by king Buvanekabahu I (1272 AD-1284 AD). After this death there was a short period of unsettlement in the country and his son Buvanekabahu II became the king of Yapahuwa in 1292 AD. After ruling from Yapahuwa for about seven years he shifted the centre of administration to Kurunegala. The entrance with an attractive flight of steps leading to the building known as the palace of Yapahuwa consists of extremely beautiful carvings. In the guard-stone in a niche of the front wall on both sides of the place where this flight begins there are two female figures carved resembling the figure of Nagaraja. The female figure which is in the three-bent (Tribhanga) posture carrying a filled-pot (Pun Kalasa) in one had is an attractive carving. The features of the figure carved in bas-relief are well presented and it is the opinion of scholars that these creations are influenced by the Tamil architecture as well as the Indo-Chinese art. The Kurunegala Period King Buvanekabahu II who became king at Yapahuwa in 1292 AD shifted the kingdom to Kurunegala around 1300 AD. In 1302 AD, the son of king Buvanekabahu, Pandita Parakramabahu IV “1302 AD-1326 AD” became king of Kurunegala. Thereafter the two kings, Vanni Buvanekabahu III and Savulu Vijayabahu V are said to have reigned till about 1341 AD from 1326 AD. Archaeological remains belonging to the Kurunegala period are very few. Remains of a stone door-post frame supposed to be a part of the Temple of the tooth relic (Dalada Maligava) are to be found there. It consists of beautiful carvings. In the four-sided holes divided into two parts on the lower parts of the door jambs there is a carving depicting two Nagarajinis. Although small in size, it contains minute carvings. The Gampola Period The Gampola kingdom begins with the reign of king Buvanekabahu IV from Gampola. Buvanekabahu IV, son of king Savulu Vijayabahu, became the provincial ruler of Apa at Gampola and Parakramabahu V at Dedigama. Thereafter Vickramabahu III, Buvanekabahu V and Virabahu became kings of Gampola. The Gampola line of kings ends with Dedigama Parakramabahu who became king in 1415 AD. Gadaladeni Viharaya can be identified as the most excellent architectural construction built during the Gampola period. Influenced to a great extent by the Hindu Architecture, it is supposed to have been constructed during the reign of king Buvanekabahu IV by a Buddhist priest named Sheelawansa Dharmakirthi as mentioned in the rock inscription near the Temple. There are two pillars each on the two sides of the front part of the entrance to the hall finished in the form of combination of three pillars. In a carving in the centre of a four sided pillar the figure of Siva the dance (Siva Nataraja) is carved in bas-relief depicting in a dancing posture. |
| * Date of Issue : 03rd September, 2015 * Denomination : Rs. 10.00, Rs. 25.00, Rs. 35.00, Rs. 50.00 * Stamp Designer : Rs. 10, Rs. 15, Rs. 40 Pulasthi Ediriweera, Rs. 25 Sanath Rohana Wickramasinghe * First Day Cover Designer : Sudath Jayawardena * Stamp Size : 30mm * 41mm * Format : Vertical * Printing Process : Offset Lithography * Sheet Composition : 20 stamps per sheet * Perforation : 14 * 13 1/2 |
* Printers : Department of Government Printing, Sri Lanka * Color : 4 Process Colors with gold or silver(Five) * Paper : 102 gsm security stamp paper with fiber * Gum : PVA * Quantity Printed : 1,000,000 each Souvernir Sheets : 10,000 * Catalogue No : Rs. 10 - CSL 2116, Rs. 25 -CSL 2117, Rs. 35 - CSL 2118, Rs. 50 - CSL 2119 * Last Date of Sale : 07th July, 2016 |
July 7th 1890 is regarded as the date on which the Department of Archaeology of Sri Lanka was established. Accordingly, the Department of Archaeology completes its 125th Anniversary this year. Although it was established in 1890, archaeological activities in Sri Lanka commenced a number of years before that.
Taking photographs of the ruins in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa had been started in 1861 and during 1875-1879, explorations of ancient inscriptions had taken place. During the period 1884-1886 surveys on monuments and other antiquities in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa had started and the National Museum too was constructed. Mr. H. C .P. Bell was assigned by the then governor of Sri Lanka, Sir Arthur Gordon, the task of conducting archaeological activities in the Northern Province, Mr. Bell, who was an officer in the Sri Lanka Administrative Service at that time, went to Anuradhapura and assumed duties officially on 07th July, 1890. This is considered to be the date of birth of the Department of Archaeology of Sri Lanka. H.C.P. Bell The full name of Mr. Bell who was born in 1851 is Harry Charles Pervice Bell. Having come to Sri Lanka in 1873, he served in the Kachcheris of Kandy and Colombo and later served as a Judge in the Kalutara court. Before his visit to Anuradhapura he performed his official duties as a judge in the Kegalle District. During that period he studied the ancient sites and monuments and wrote the report known as the Kegalle report. Having visited Anuradhapura to conduct archaeological activities, he commenced exploration activities on 15th July, 1890. The services done by Mr. Bell for 22 years since then until 1912 as the Commissioner of Archaeology to protect the archaeological heritage of Sri Lanka are unprecedented and excellent. During this period archaeological sites of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya were cleared conservation activities of structures were carried out. Being engaged in extremely risky operations, he took steps to protect the pocket of the Sigiri frescoes by an iron enclosure and to construct a spiral iron stair case to climb to see the frescoes. Apart from these archaeological sites, the identification and clearing of archaeological sites at Ritigala, Mihintale, Medirigiriya, Thiriyaya, Sitavaka, Nalanda, Manakanda etc. too were conducted under his directions and guidance. Having rendered a yeoman service for the protection of the Sri Lankan archaeological heritage by devoting a considerable period of his life, he breathed his last in 1937. |
| * Date of Issue : 08th July, 2015 * Denomination : Rs. 10.00 * Stamp Designer : Pulasthi Ediriweera * First Day Cover Designer : Sudath Jayawardena * Stamp Size : 41mm * 30mm * Format : Horizontal * Printing Process : Offset Lithography * Sheet Composition : 20 stamps per sheet |
* Perforation : 13 3/4 * 14 * Printers : Department of Government Printing, Sri Lanka * Color : 4 Process Colors * Paper : 102 gsm security stamp paper with fiber * Gum : PVA * Quantity Printed : 500,000 * Catalogue No : CSL 2111 * Last Date of Sale : 07th July, 2016 |
