Department of Archeology

Stamp Bulletin No. 864 Commemorative Issue

July 08^th, 2015

Department of Archeology

MNH Block of 4

First Day Cover

Sheetlet

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

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60th Anniversary of the Election Department

Stamp Bulletin No. 868 Commemorative Issue

September 30^th, 2015

60th Anniversary of the Election Department

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 MNH Stamps

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World Day Against Child Labour

Stamp Bulletin No. 863 Commemorative Issue

June 12^th, 2015

World Day Against Child Labour

MNH Block of 4

First Day Cover

Sheetlet

The “World Day Against Child Labour” on the 12th of June is commemorated every year by the Women and Children Affairs Division of the Department of Labor, and this year it is commemorated under the theme of “Beautiful Sri Lanka free from Child Labour”. This is an important opportunity to show off to the society the importance of children through the public sector as well as the private sector. Children are the most valuable asset not only in any country, region or a continent, but also in the whole world. The Convention about Child Rights states about the Child Labour as follows:     Children should be protected from economic exploitation and hazardous employment. Moreover, children should be protected from any actions that are harmful to the physical and mental health, spiritual, moral or social development of them. Child rights are included in human rights, when it is addressed that human rights should be honored for the future social progress. We must accept that, within human society children also have the right to enjoy various rights, so as the adults have. By ratifying the convention of child rights in 1992, Sri Lanka has also adopted many rights of children, such as right for leisure and sports, protection from economic exploitation, etc. After the declaration of child rights by the United Nations Organization in 1979 only, most of the states have started speaking about child rights. The UN Declaration states that the human community is bound to give the proper place for every child. The Declaration on Children was accepted by the United Nations Organization in 1989. As these conventions and declarations were accepted by Sri Lanka, we have the responsibility to protect the rights of our children also. For this purpose, provisions were introduced in our constitution and from time to time enactments were introduced by our parliament. Even 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 : 12th June, 2015 * Denomination : Rs. 10.00 * Stamp Designer : Pulasthi Ediriweera * 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 3/4 * 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 : 11th June, 2016

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State Vesak Festival 2015

Stamp Bulletin No. 862 Commemorative Issue

May 04^th, 2015

State Vesak Festival 2015 - Mahiyangana

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It is from the Mahiyangana stupa that paintings drawn within a relic chamber is discovered in Sri Lanka for the first time. This relic chamber was opened o January 03, 1951 during excavations conducted by the Department of Archaeology where it was found that mortar containing the paintings had been fallen on the ground. Out of the fragments about thirteen parts of paintings could be protected and conserved. Incidents such as the defeat of Mara, the Enlightenment, the worship of Buddha by the Devas and the Brahma in the three world etc. are depicted by those paintings. Among these paintings which are considered to be dated back to the 9-10th centuries AD, the well preserved one is that which depicts the God Vishnu with four hands and carrying a basket of flowers in two hands getting ready for the worship of the Buddha. While red, orange, yellow, black and white have been used as the main colors in drawing the pictures, the line is given prominence in executing them. At present the plates containing these paintings are securely kept at the Anuradhapura museum for exhibition.

* Date of Issue : 04th May, 2015 * Denomination : Rs. 10.00 * Catalogue No. : CSL2109 * Stamp Designer : K.N. Prasadani Kumari * 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 * Gum : PVA * Quantity Printed : 500,000 * Last Date of Sale : 03rd May, 2016

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Vesak 2015

Stamp Bulletin No. 861 Commemorative Issue

April 20^th, 2015

Vesak 2015

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Amisa Pooja (Material Offerings) Offerings of material items such as flowers, incense, water, victuals (Gilanpasa) etc. by way of paying homage to Buddha is known as Amisa Pooja. Apart from such offerings, activities such as conducting Dan Sal (offering free foods and drinks to devotees), making Vesak lanterns and taking part in pilgrimages too are considered as Amisa Poojas. Particularly on Vesak days, Buddhist devotees engage themselves in the practice of decorating their homes with Buddhist flags, lanterns etc., and making offerings of flowers, incense to Buddha by way of invoking merit for themselves. The main virtue which is developed through such Amisa Poojas is Saddha or piety. It is the basic requirement for Buddhists in the realization of the ultimate goal of Nibbana which is the sum total of the Dhamma. Therefore, it is with great enthusiasm and devotion that Buddhist people engage themselves in Amisa Poojas in order to cultivate such virtues as Saddha. Pratipatti Pooja (Spiritual Offerings) Making offerings to Buddha by engaging in excellent good deeds such as Sila (good conduct), Bhavana (meditation) etc, is known as Pratipatti or spiritual offering. Buddha has highly valued this type of activities in the total elimination of powerful evil deeds such as Lobha (desire), Dvesha (malice) and Moha (ignorance) which contribute to the prolongation of the Samsaric journey. Those good practices help the total elimination of such evil deeds; purify one’s mind and restrain one’s body and words. Ultimately, a noble being is created in this manner. Therefore this practice is the nobler one of the two and Buddha has even preached that it is the best respect that one can bestow upon him. Therefore Buddhists make it a point to engage in observing Sil on the full moon day of every month in order to make that noble offering and particularly on the Vesak day they engage themselves in such meritorious acts in large numbers.

* Date of Issue : 20th April, 2015 * Denomination : Rs. 8.00, Rs. 10.00, Rs. 50.00 * Stamp Designer : Piyaratne Hewabatage * Stamp Size : 41mm * 30mm * Format : Horizontal * Printing Process : Offset Lithography * Sheet Composition : 20 stamps per sheet * Perforation : 13 1/2 * 14

* Printers : Department of Government Printing, Sri Lanka * Color : 4 Process Colors * Paper : 102 gsm security stamp paper * Gum : PVA * Quantity Printed Stamps : 500,000 each                    Souvenir Sheets : 15,000 each * Last Date of Sale : 19th April, 2016

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150th Anniversary of The National Hospital

Stamp Bulletin No. 860 Commemorative Issue

March 20^th, 2015

150th Anniversary of The National Hospital

First Day Cover

MNH Block of 4

Sheetlet

The National Hospital of Sri Lanka which was so established 150 years ago, stands out today dominantly covering a total extent of 32 acres showing its majesty decorating the sky line with its many storied buildings prominently standing side by side with ancient buildings. It consists of 82 Wards and 3404 beds to provide tertiary services throughout the land of Sri Lanka. Equipped with an additional 23 Incentive care Units and 19 Operating Theatres it treats around 2800 indoor patients and around 5500 outdoor patients per day. Its total medical staff is over 1000 with 120 specialist doctors and there are around 2200 in the nursing service thus making the total staff nearly 7500. There are many specialist services available in this Hospital which provides free of charge many advanced health facilities available in many advanced countries in the world. Among them are fully equipped accidents and Neuro – Traumatic Units, Cardiologic Treatment Units, Neuro-treatment unit, Mental and Gynecological Treatment Units, Cancer Detection Units, Skin Disease Treatment Units etc. which provide a variety of medical and surgical treatments. The General Hospital which is well equipped with ultra modern facilities for diagnostic and modernized advanced treatment mechanisms provides a variety of health services to patients. Parallel to the 150th anniversary of the Hospital various programs were conducted in 2014 with the basic objective of providing more effective patient treatment services to the entire Sri Lankan public. For this purpose human resource development activities such as the conduct of motivation workshops meant for attitudinal advancement and the improvement of knowledge and skills of particularly the unskilled staff of the maintenance division of the Hospital relating to their vocational training and the use of new technological equipment and for the establishment of new libraries are also being carried out regularly. Apart from the above mentioned activities, there are programs aimed at all staff employees to develop their skills by providing specialist knowledge relating to the respective fields as well. Under the Hospital infrastructure facilities development scheme the hospital premises have been divided into zones and activities such as landscape beautification and maintenance, renovation and conservation of wards and ancient buildings introducing electrical modes of patient transport, establishment of an underground cable network for the advancement of IT related activities, road development works on inner and outer hospital road network, development of hospital entrance roads, improving productivity of services through the systematic development of the administrative and office building, establishment of the multi-storied OPD complex with modern facilities and the establishment of the Epileptic Diseases unit etc. are underway.

* Date of Issue : 20th March, 2015 * Denomination : Rs. 10.00 * Catalogue No. : CSL2015 * Stamp Designer : Kelum A. Gunasekara * Stamp Size : 50mm * 20mm * Format : Horizontal * Printing Process : Offset Lithography * Sheet Composition : 20 stamps per sheet

* Perforation : 13 1/2 * 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 : 19th March, 2016

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Visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Sri Lanka

Stamp Bulletin No. 859 Commemorative Issue

January 13^th, 2015

Visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Sri Lanka

First Day Cover

MNH Block of 4s

 

Sheetlets 

 

Miniature Sheet

 

Folder 

The highlight of the visit is the Canonization of the Indian born, Goan, Catholic, Oratorian Priest Joseph Vaz, known universally as the Apostle of Sri Lanka and Patron of Goa and Daman on 14th January 2015 at a special Eucharistic Celebration at the Galle Face Green. He is Sri Lanka’s first Saint. The Rs.10.00 stamp with the portrait of his Holiness Pope Francis, has the picture of St. Peter’s Basilica of the Vatican city in blue at its background. The Rs. 75.00 stamp with the portrait of his Holiness Pope Francis, has the backdrop of the stage of the Canonization Holy Mass-designed according to typical Sri Lankan Eastern Architecture, in red as its background. According to the Christian iconographic color language blue represents earthly nature and red the divine nature, which are the two natures of Jesus Christ. The Pope is the Vicar of Christ. In the stamp with the blue background the molding line of the colonnade of St. Peter’s Basilica is seen rising from the left lower corner towards the right edge. The molding line is continued in the stamp with the red background leading it still higher. A canonization of a Saint usually takes place in Rome. However, here under a special indult the ceremony is officially held in Sri Lanka. “Abide in love” which is based on John Chapter 15 verse 9 of the Holy Bible, is the theme of the visit of his holiness pope Francis to Sri Lanka. The Souvenir sheet has the Pieta – the sculpture of Michelangelo Buonarroti, depicting Mary the Mother of Jesus holding the dead body of Jesus under the cross. The dead body signifies the unfathomable love of the creator God in giving his own son to be persecuted and killed by man for the salvation of man. The Virgin Mary the Mother of Jesus participated in this sacrificial love by totally surrendering herself and her son to the will of God. The background of the Souvenir sheet depicts a marble stone reminding us of the words of Jesus: “Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church” (Holy Bible, Matthew 16:18) to St. Peter the first Pope whose office is continued to this day in Papacy.

* Date of Issue : 13th January, 2015 * Denomination : Rs. 10.00, Rs. 75.00 * Stamp Design Concept - Rev. Fr. L.G. Priyantha Silva * Stamps Designer : Pulasthi Edhiriweera * Stamp Size : 41mm * 30mm * Format : Horizontal * Printing Process : Offset Lithography * Sheet Composition : 20 stamps per sheet * Perforation : 13 1/ 2 * 14

* Printers : Department of Government Printing, Sri Lanka * Color : 4 Process Colors * Paper : 102 gsm security stamp paper * Gum : PVA * Quantity Printed :                                           Rs.10 - 1,000,000                                          Rs.75 - 1,000,000                Souvenir Sheet: Rs.85 - 25,000 * Last Date of Sale : 12th January, 2016

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Solar System

Stamp Bulletin No. 858 Commemorative Issue

December 05^th, 2014

Solar System

First Day Cover

MNH Block of 4s

 

Sheetlets 

 

MNH Stamps 

 

Miniature Sheet - National Stamp Exhibition

 

Miniature Sheet 

Details

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Sri Lanka Standard Institution(SLSI)

Stamp Bulletin No. 857 Commemorative Issue

December 03^rd, 2014

Sri Lanka Standard Institution(SLSI)

First Day Cover

MNH Block of 4

 

Sheetlet 

Details

* Date of Issue : 03rd December, 2014 * Denomination : Rs. 10.00 * Stamp Designer : Jagath Kosmodara * Stamp Size : 30mm * 30mm * Format : Square * Printing Process : Offset Lithography * Sheet Composition : 20 stamps per sheet

* Perforation : 12 * 13 1/4 * 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 : 02nd December, 2015

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Christmas 2014

Stamp Bulletin No. 856 Commemorative Issue

November 30^th, 2014

Christmas 2014

First Day Cover

MNH Block of 4

 

Sheetlet 

 

Miniature Sheet 

Jesus Christ, the son of Almighty God was conceived in the womb of mother Mary and was born in a poor cattle mart in Bethlehem. Infant Jesus, who was laying a manager, brought the message of peace and humbleness to the world. Not only high and powerful kings but also poor shepherds came to worship infant Jesus and it made the cattle mart filled with wonders of Christmas. These Christmas stamps have been designed associating the winning arts of the ‘Christmas Art competition 2014’, held under the theme of ‘Wonder of Christmas in Gawahala’. It's been scheduled to celebrate the national celebration of Christmas 2014 at St. Mary’s Church, Grand Street, Negombo. St. Mary’s Church, Grand Street, Negombo The first building was built in 1603 as 'St. Mary’s Church'. The present huge church building is the 5th church building and the foundation stone was placed by Ref. Fr. Vistarien in 4th June 1874. It was completed after almost 50 years in 1922. It is the biggest cathedral in Negombo and has a painted ceiling as well as alabaster statues of various saints. Artist Mr. N.S. Godamanne has painted five paintings under the guidance of Rev. Fr. Sebastian and twelve other paintings also painted on mile stones of the life of Jesus Christ.

* Date of Issue : 30th November, 2014 * Denomination : Rs. 10.00 * 2 * Background Illustration - Stamp:             Vojitha Heshan Herath                            Dinithi Sanchala Panagoda * Souvenir Sheet Designer : Elissa Ronashi Beliketimulla * Stamp Size : 41mm * 30mm * Format : Horizontal * Printing Process : Offset Lithography

* Sheet Composition : 20 stamps per sheet * Perforation : 13 1/ 2 * 14 * Printers : Department of Government Printing, Sri Lanka * Color : 4 Process Colors * Paper : 102 gsm security stamp paper * Gum : PVA * Quantity Printed : 500,000 Stamps                                 10,000 Souvenir Sheets * Last Date of Sale : 29th November, 2015

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