COVER N. 483 - SRI LANKA

Postmark: Headquarters P. O. Colombo Mail 18.06.24

Posted on the 18th June; Received on the 3rd July 2024

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A barrage of mail from Sri Lanka, in the shape of  two letters and a postcard.... Thanks a lot Ravi, always a pleasure to receive your nice envelopes full of beautiful stamps. Replies on their way as I type.

More than 4000 different plant species inhabit the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya, in Sri Lanka.

The designation of the site, which occupies a total area of 0,59 Square Kilometres or 147 acres, does point the visitor to its British origin, although, in truth, there was a royal garden established in Peradeniya in 1747, during the reign of King Kirti Sri, the place having first been chosen as a court location in 1371, by king Wickramabahu III, as stated in the Royal Botanic Gardens website.

Sadly, it seems the British levelled all the existing facilities which included a vihare (a buddhist monastery) and a dagoba (a temple) when they became the administrative power of the region.

Later, in 1821, Alexander Moon, a British botanist, started the local cultivation of cinnamon trees and coffee shrubs and the Royal Botanic Gardens would be formally established in 1843. 

Today the Royal Botanic gardens, Peradeniya, a very popular attraction if we consider the number of annual visitors they get, approximately 1,2 million locals plus 0,4 million foreigners,  are under the management of  Sri Lanka's Department of National Botanic Gardens.

The Gardens which are also famous for their collection of Orchids, were also used as a location for the famous film "The Bridge on the River Kway".

Although history has it that Alexander Moon started the gardens in 1821, 1822 is probably the date to consider since it is the year that is mentioned on the legend of the four stamps which can be seen on the cover,  issued on 12SEP2022, as single stamp souvenir sheets, two with a face value of 50 rupees and  two of 60 rupees.

The stamps, being illustrated with photographs of the site, include legends,  guiding the viewer to what is shown. As such, from left to right, top to bottom:

- Scenic landscape of a pond and a border;

- Ribbon border; Christmas cake and Christmas tree;

- Gardener memorial;

- Umbrella tree and National herbarium.

As usual with Ravindra's letters, the postmark hails from Colombo, the financial capital of  Sri Lanka, where the Portuguese established a fort in 1517.