Sri Lankan Stamps: October 2011

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Dudely Senanayake Birth Centenary

The Philatelic Bureau of the Department of Posts has issued a new postage stamp in the denomination of Rs. 5.00 on October 14, 2011 to commemorate the 100^th birth anniversary of Hon. Dudley Senanayake

The Honourable Dudley Senanavake, Prime Minister of the country on four occasions, was born on the 19^th of June 1911. The commemorative stamp which is being brought out marks the 100^th anniversary of his birth and is a tribute to his commitment to public duty and good governance which were characteristic of his life.

He was the elder son of the Rt. Hon. D. S. Senanayake, the first Prime Minister of independent Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Dudley Senanayake was educated at St. Thomas college, a leading public school in the island and later at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge where he read for the Tripos in natural sciences. He was admitted to the Middle Temple in London and passed out as a barrister before returning to the country to assume a leading role in political life in 1935.

Before Independence he served as a member of the state council and Minister of Agriculture for several years. After the country's emergence as a free country in 1948, he became Prime Minister on the demise of the first Premier in 1952 and went on to be elected Prime Minister at the general elections of 1952, again in the 1960 elections for a short period and finally for the full term of five years after the general elections of 1965 till 1970. He is remembered chiefly for his commitment to the ideals of liberal democracy, his faith in the rule of law and parliamentary government and the leadership he gave to agriculture which resulted in the achievement of self sufficiency in the country's staple food crops.

When Dudley Senanayake died at the comparatively early age of 61 on the 13^th of April 1973 he held no public office. Yet, the peoples outpouring of respect and grief at his passing was great and remains unsurpassed.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

1st South Asian Beach Games

The Philatelic Bureau of the Department of Posts issued a new postage stamp in the denomination of Rs. 5 .00 on 11^th October, 2011 to commemorate 1^st Asian Beach Games.

In their constant search for opportunities to provide athletes with varied competitions, sports administrators have come up with ideas of staging games in a different milieu. Thus sports such as Basketball, Football, Handball and Volleyball, etc… will be played on the beaches on specially prepared areas.

Taking a cue from these sport administrators those in charge of global activities responded with arranging festivals for these types of Games. Thus besides the Asian Games the Olympic Council of Asia organizes, the Asian Winter Games, the Asian Beach Games, Asian Youth Games and Asian Indoor Martial Art Games. Taking this a step further the South Asian Olympic Council has come up with the 1^st South Asian Beach Games.

Sri Lanka has been given the responsibility of staging the 1^st South Asian Beach Games which are scheduled to be held from 8^th to 14^th October 2011 at Hambantota. The choice of Hambantota for the venue is significant because, if their Bid succeeds Sri Lanka will be organising the Commonwealth Games at Hambantota in 2018.

The Organising Committee in charge of the 1^st South Asian Beach Games at Hambantota has arranged a comprehensive programme for these Games. During the short period of 7 days these games will be held, there will be competitions in ll disciplines as follows,

1. Beach Basketball

2. Beach Football

3. Beach Handball

4. Beach Kabaddi

5. Beach Netball

6. Beach Volleyball

7. Body Building

8. Equestrian

9. Life Saving

10. Swimming

11. Windsurfing

Seven Countries in the South Asian region have committed themselves to field athletes for competitions in most of the above disciplines. There will be over 500 athletes and officials coming to Sri Lanka for this event. i

The Organising Committee faced a stupendous task in arranging for accommodation, transport and other facilities for the visitors from abroad. In spite of these difficulties the Organising Committee has endevoured to organize the Games in a manner that would be fitting such a global event.