COVER N. 399 - SRI LANKA

Postmark: Headquarters P.O. Colombo - Mail -  14.01.2024

Posted on the 14th January; received on the 24th January 2024 

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The second cover from Sri Lanka and the year is still in its infancy... Ravindra is fast becoming a rather frequent name in the Thanks list here on my blog and, by now, he's fully entitled to the associated member status I hereby bestow upon him 😀. Bohomȧ  sthoothi, Ravindra!

Diplomatic Relations between  France and Sri Lanka were established on 27 October 1948 and  75 years later, Emmanuel Macron became the first French President to visit the island state. 

The anniversary was celebrated by Sri Lanka Post with a two 50 Rupee stamp set, issued on 27OCT23 illustrated with images of the ancient city of Sigiriya  and Mont-Saint-Michel, both having in common the fact that they are perched atop natural ground elevations and both sharing UNESCO WHS status.

Ravindra also used another two stamps, both also celebrating diplomatic relations anniversaries, what makes the cover a rather diplomatic one ....

The 35 Rupee stamp was issued in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Nepal, which occurred on the 1st July 1957.  Curiously, the stamp was issued on 20FEB2020, almost three years past the celebrated date. 

The stamp is illustrated with images of the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy, Sri Lanka, (it is believed that the temple houses one of Buddha's teeth)  and the  Lumbini Temple in Nepal, erected in Buddha’s place of birth. Both temples enjoy UNESCO WHS status.

The 50 Ruppe stamp, a joint issue between Sri Lanka and Egypt, issued on 08DEC2023,  celebrates 66 years of Diplomatic relations between the two countries, Egypt having been the first Arab State to open a diplomatic representation in Sri Lanka, in 1957.

The stamp is illustrated with the images of the Jetavanarama stupa, a Buddhist reliquary monument,  in the ruins of Jetavana monastery, in the ancient city of  Anuradhapura, in Sri Lanka, and of the Sphinx and the Pyramid of Khafre, in Egypt, both also UNESCO WH Sites.

As usual with Ravindra's covers, the Postmark indicates expedition through the PO Headquarters of Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital.