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 |
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 |
The Methodist Missionaries who landed in the Gale Fort on 29th June 1814 established the Methodist Church in Sri Lanka.
Professor A. J. Grant in his history book titled “Europe in the last 500 years” has commented that the Methodist movement, pioneered by the Reverend John Benjamin Wesley, was equally popular among all sectors of society – from the city worker to the laborer and also among both the rich and poor. He further comments that the workers’ revolution among the coal mine workers in Britain was averted due to the Methodist movement in the 18th century and that this impact was of special significance. He states that the influence of the Methodist Church resulted in better relationships between employer and employee which in turn led to avert a workers’ revolt. The teachings of the Methodist Church at the time was based on the biblical teachings of Jesus where Jesus talked about the “Kingdom of God” being established on this earth; a kingdom where the poor enjoy liberation from poverty, where there is freedom for those who suffer injustice and are in bondage and where the rich are motivated to use their wealth and time for the benefit of the poor. This is what is known as the “Gospel for the poor” and it is with this divine vision-a gospel for the people of Ceylon that Dr. Thomas Coke set out from England. One of the top priorities of the early Methodist missionaries was to raise the literacy level of the local population. Professor Sucharitha Gamlath in his English-Sinhala dictionary pays tribute to Rev. Benjamin Clough, the youngest member of the Methodist missionaries who first came to Ceylon with his pioneering work in compiling and printing dictionaries in this country. Since John Wesley was the pioneer of Methodism, the early Methodist church was known as the Weslyan Methodist Church. The Methodist Church was instrumental in regularizing the school structure in our country. When the school take-over took place, the Methodist Church had established over two hundred schools. Today, only Wesley College and Methodist College, both in Colombo, remain as Methodist schools in the island. Technical Institutions were also established by the Methodist Church in different parts of the island. The Seed Research Institute, Hingurakgoda, a Methodist institution, made an enormous contribution to agriculture in our land. The Dutch first introduced the printing press to our country and today this has become the Government Press. Second to this was the Wesley Press, established in 1814 by the Methodist Church. M.D. Gunasena, one of our illustrious printing giants received his training at the Wesley Press. Many professionals, teachers, artists and politicians, who contributed much to our country, had their education in Methodist institutions. Among them are our current president, the honorable Mahinda Rajapkse, the Honorable Speaker Chamal Rajapakse, a former prime minister Wijayananda Dahanayake and a former president, Ranasinghe Premadasa our first Governor General Sir Oliver Goonathilaka and Sir D. B Jayathilake, a leader who worked hard to redeem Ceylon from British Colonial powers, were both distinguished old boys of Wesley college. Also Dr. C. W. W. Kannnangara, the father of free education, was a distinguish product of Richmond (Methodist) College, Galle. |
| * Date of Issue : 29th June, 2014 * Denomination : Rs. 5.00 * Stamp Designer : Givantha Arthasad * Stamp Size : 40mm * 40mm * Format : Diamond * Printing Process : Offset Lithography * Sheet Composition : 20 stamps per sheet |
* Perforation : 13 * 13 * 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 : 28th June, 2015 |
