The launching of the Sigiriya World Heritage UNESCO stamp by La Poste , French postal administration, was celebrated by the Permanent Delegation of Sri Lanka to UNESCO on 7 th November, during the 37 th session of the General Conference at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.
Sigiriya is the second Sri Lanka- UNESCO World Heritage site to be selected for the publication of a stamp by French postal administration after issuance of Sri Lanka- Sacred City of Anuradhapura in 1985.
Addressing a gathering of Permanent Delegates from members states of many countries, high ranking UNESCO officials and Sri Lankan community members living in Paris, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Sri Lanka Professor Karunaratne Hangawatte elaborated on the significance of Sigiriya, an icon of Sri Lanka’s history, civilization and culture, built by King Kassapa in 5 th century A.D. Sigiriya is one of the most outstanding and popular destinations among tourists to the Island.
One of eight Sri Lankan World Heritage sites, Sigiriya was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Program in 1982 along with the ancient city of Polonnaruwa and the sacred city of Anuradhapura followed by the inscription of the sacred city of Kandy and the old town and fortifications of Galle and Sinharaja forest reserve in 1988, the Golden Temple of Dambulla in 1991 and the Central Highlands of Sri Lank in 2010.
Director of the World Heritage Committee, Mr.Kishore Rao, special guest at this event, congratulated Sri Lanka on this special occasion and received the first day cover of the Sigiriya-Sri Lanka UNESCO 2013 stamp presented to him by H.E. Ambassador Hangawatte.
Sigiriya-Sri Lanka UNESCO 2013 stamp was exhibited at the Salon Philatélique d’Automne 2013 (Autumn Philatelic Show 2013) in Paris from 5 th to 8 th November.
Guests attending this event were served tea from Sri Lanka with an accompaniment of savory and sweet native delicacies.
