By: Isuru Parakrama
October 10, Colombo (LNW): The Postal Department has addressed recent reports regarding stamps featuring Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and Minister Vijitha Herath, clarifying that these stamps were issued as personalised souvenirs in celebration of the 150th World Postal Day.
The department emphasised that these stamps, presented to the Prime Minister and Minister Herath as chief guests, are not official postage stamps.
In its statement, the Postal Department highlighted that these personalised stamps, whilst falling under the commemorative category, are intended purely as keepsakes. They are not valid for mailing purposes and do not form part of the country’s official postal services.
The department further clarified that this gesture of creating personalised stamps as mementos is a long-standing tradition for special occasions.
Additionally, the Postal Department pointed out that such personalised stamps can be created by any individual using their preferred images, underscoring that they remain distinct from official stamps issued for postal use.
To mark the 150th World Postal Day, two official stamps were also launched, based on designs from the Universal Postal Union (UPU).
These stamps, issued for use by all UPU member nations, symbolise international cooperation in postal services and will be available for mailing purposes across Sri Lanka.
Early reports suggested the nature and intent behind these stamps were of political motive, alleging that the Department is systematically being politcised aiming the upcoming elections.
