As a part of celebrating the 75th Anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Türkiye in 2023, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Ankara, Türkiye in collaboration with the Turkish Post and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye launched the 75th anniversary special commemorative stamps on 08 December in Ankara at the official residence of the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Türkiye.
special commemorative stamps and the special First Day Covers, were designed by a Sri Lankan artist on gratis basis, for both countries and launched simultaneously in Türkiye and Sri Lanka.
In Ankara, Türkiye, the Special First Day Covers with stamp were handed over by Menderes Pınarbaşı, representing Turkish Post and Head of the Department of Overseas Promotion and Cultural Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Murat Dikman to Ambassador Hasanthi Urugodawatte Dissanayake, at her official residence.
In turn, Ambassador Dissanayake presented the Special First Day Covers with the stamp to Director General for South Asia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye Ambassador Oğuzhan Ertuğrul, Hony. Consul for Sri Lanka in Nevsehir Mahmut Uluer and to Vasantha Perera, the designer of the special commemorative stamps.
Ambassador of Sri Lanka in her speech described that the commemorative stamps illustrate the depiction of two significant places in Sri Lanka and Türkiye. The depiction of Sigiriya viewed from Pidurangala in Sri Lanka, a UNESCO World Heritage site in one stamp and in the other the depiction of Cappadocia in Central Anatolian region in Türkiye which is best known for its unique geological features. She added that the link between the two stamps are the hot air balloons in Sri Lanka and Türkiye, operated by Mahmut Uluer who also happens to be the Hony. Consul for Sri Lanka in Nevsehir Region in Türkiye.
Explaining the story behind the depiction in the Special First Day Cover, she explained that the depiction of the residence is in fact the “Villa Stamboul” in Sri Lanka, built by Sir Mohamed Marcan Marker, Hony. Consul for the Ottoman Empire in Sri Lanka from 1903 to 1923, who named his villa after the capital of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul, spelt as “Stamboul”, which was easier to pronounce by Sri Lankans.
Ambassador also thanked the Turkish Post and particularly the Department of Overseas Promotion and Cultural Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their unstinted cooperation to ensure a successful outcome of the initiative at a short period of time. She also thanked Vasantha Perera, for not only designing the stamps for both countries, but also coordinating the technical aspects and approval processes in both countries. It was interesting to note that it appeared that it is the first time a Sri Lankan has designed a stamp for a foreign country, while for Türkiye, also it appeared to be the first time that a foreigner has designed a Turkish stamp.
Yet another uniqueness associated with this issuance of stamps was that it is generally unusual for Türkiye to issue stamps to commemorate bilateral relations with a foreign country and thus, the Ambassador expressed that it is an honour and a privilege for Sri Lanka to be a pioneering country with this opportunity.
Over 50 attendees including parliamentarians, officials from the Turkish Post, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Ambassadors based in Ankara, Honorary Consuls of Sri Lanka in Türkiye, Turkish academicians, former Ambassadors of Türkiye to Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan community, and Turkish community were present and witnessed the special ceremony.
As customarily the guests were also treated to Sri Lankan delicacies.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Ankara
11 December 2023
