Milestone in postal history of Sri Lanka:

Postal Department issues longest stamp

by Mohammed NAALIR

Longest stamp

The Philatelic Bureau of Department of Posts issued five stamps including the longest stamp in the postal history of Sri Lanka to mark the 25th anniversary of the "Viceroy Special" Steam Locomotive last week.

The 123 mm long and 30 mm wide stamp was launched at a ceremony held under the patronage of Minister of Postal Services Jeewan Kumaratunge and Transport Minister Kumara Welgama.

Since the first stamp was issued in 1867 no such lengthy stamp was issued in the postal history of this country. This is the Sri Lanka's first long stamp, which is a concept of Minister Jeewan Kumaratunge.

The Minister said that this occasion gets pride as five stamps on steam train were launched simultaneously.

He said that the transport sector has been subjected to rapid development and modifying under the Government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Minister praised the railway engineers and other officials for their dedication to protect the Viceroy Special Steam Locomotive from destruction.

Minister Kumaratunge expressed confidence that the Viceroy Special Locomotive can be used to attract more and more tourists, to the island.

Addressing the event Sabaragamuwa Province Chief Minister Mahipala Herath said that there are enough natural resources to promote tourism sector. The famous Pinnawala elephant orphanage is also located nearly five kilo metres away from Rambukkana Railway Station, the Chief Minister said. The Chief Minister Herath further said that with a view of promoting the tourism sector in this area the single way railway line was developed into double line. Another Zoological Garden is also on the making in Pinnawala.

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama addressing the event said that Hemasiri Fernando inaugurated Viceroy Special Steam Locomotive service to attend tourists 25 years ago.

Minister Welgama said that 33 compartments and two luxurious compartments are to be imported from India to help the tourism sector.

Addressing the event Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Dr. Nalaka Godahewa said that at a time the tourism sector was experiencing struggles 25 years before the JF Tours Chairman Hemasiri Fernando rendered a solid support to promote the tourism sector by adding Viceroy Special Steam Locomotive for the transportation of tourists.

Moves are underway to bring more and more tourists to Sri Lanka in future. Last year 454,000 foreign tourists visited Sri Lanka. This shows an increase of 46 per cent increase in the arrival when compared to the previous years.

He predicted that 2.5 million tourists will arrive in Sri Lanka by 2016.