Postal Dept. is 150 years

by Chanuka Mannapperuma

The Sri Lanka Postal Department completes 150 years today. A first day stamp will be issued to mark the occasion. To add significance to the occasion the Postal Department has organised several programmes at the newly opened Postal Headquarters building at D. R. Wijewardene Mawatha. In 1857, Sri Lanka issued its first stamp to the value of six pence to mark the inauguration.

Post Master General, Shervin Senadeera told the Sunday Observer that they will hold an exhibition to mark this occasion today which will continue till April 5. Around 10 organisations, clubs and philatelic bureaus which collect stamps are participating in this event. For this exhibition, the public and schoolchildren are encouraged to participate free.

In addition they have organised educational programs (stamp and postal) for schoolchildren. Stamp catalogue will also be available for sale at a reasonable price. A modernised and fully equipped post office will also be opened at the postal Headquarters, with an Auditorium to accommodate nearly 200 people.

Among several other programmes they have also introduced four new stamps in the denomination of Rs. 5, Rs. 10, Rs. 20 and Rs. 45. They also hope to introduce a policy to prevent the production of fake stamps.