Philatelic bureau to popularise, promote collecting among children

Francis P. Gunasekara

The Philatelic Bureau of the Postal Department is engaged continually in popularising and promoting stamp collecting among schoolchildren.

In the latest bulletin the Bureau has issued all instructions necessary are given so that even non-collectors can now, will be able to try this activity. We have shown here, the front page of the 8-page bulletin which can be freely obtained from the Philatelic Bureau by writing to this address-Philatelic Bureau, Department of Posts, Postal Head Qrs., Colombo 1.

The above-mentioned bulletin gives all the information necessary as to the history of the hobby, how it developed to be a hobby that is universal and how you too can be a good and successful collector.

Moreover it explains what the First Day Covers are, and about Souvenir Sheets of stamps issued very often. The bulletin ends with these three slogans –

1. Starts collecting stamps from today itself.
2. Thereby, gather universal knowledge and
3. Win a world through the wonderful hobby of stamp collecting.

Sea-shells stamps

An interesting set of stamps we have been waiting for sometime now has come out. They are the captivating sea-shells stamps which came out on May 22, 2007. The denominations of the stamps are Rs. 5.00, Rs. 12.00, Rs. 15.00 and Rs. 45.00.

The stamps have been designed by W. Wasantha Perera and let us have a word of praise for his lovely set of sea-shells which will adorn any Sri Lanka collection. These stamps were issued to mark the World Biodiversity Day.

This day focusses our attention on all animal life, plants, microbes and the environment in which they live. Shells have been used by humans over the years as food, jewellery, ornaments and for trade.

The shells featured in the stamps are all found in our country-Rs. 5.00 Textile cone, Rs. 12.00 - Aquatile hairy trition, Rs. 15.00 - Rose branched Murex and Rs. 45.00 - Trapezium horse conch. All these are said to be carnivorous.

New Scout stamp

To commemorate the centenary of the World Scout Movement, the Philatelic Bureau of the Postal Department issued a stamp on May 26, 2007.

The denomination of the stamp is Rs. 5.00 The objectives of the centenary celebrations are to mark the 100 years of the Society, to demonstrate the unity of World Scouting to improve and promote the quality of scouting, to promote peace, to demonstrate the unique value of scouting, to provide enjoyable and beneficial experiences, to demonstrate a commitment to nature and environment and to show concern for all communities. The stamp is shown here. It shows four stages of the scouting life.

Cub scout, Senior scout, Rover scout and Scout leader. Sri Lanka Scout Organization was born in 1912 and at present its islandwide membership is said to be 35,000. Sri Lanka Scout Association will be participating in the Centenary World Jamboree scheduled to be held this year in the United Kingdom.

Hues of Blossoms at Lionel Wendt

An exhibition and sale of paintings, "Hues of Blossoms" by students of Mrs. Latifa Ismail will be held at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery on the 9th and 10th June 2007 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The participants of this exhibition are Natasha Nimalasiri (11 years), Rushka Silva (14 years), Kusheshi de Zoysa (7 years), Anuki Bogahawatta (11 years), Niruth Bogahawatta (8 years), Razia Esufally (12 years), Abhishek Ariyasinghe (11 years), Amra Ismail (10 years), Randeshini Kulatunga (9 years), Dilanika Kulatunga (8 years), Lahari Jayetileke (7 years) and Dulanji Beneragama (10 years).

The participants are between the ages of 7 and 14 years. This exhibition is organized by the parents of the participants to encourage them to develop their artistic talents.

The sale proceeds from this exhibition will be donated to the Thalassaemia patients at the Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya.

The moon

Look at the beautiful full moon,
Shining down upon earth
Peeping through the clouds,
To promise the children dishes of curd.

Look at the round new moon,
Like a plump old lady,
Chasing away the curtain of darkness,
To let the stars twinkle and dance.

Look at the lovely shiny moon,
chatting with the wind
Rustling past the trees,
Lulling good folks to sleep.

Oh, do look at the wonderful moon,
That brings happiness to the dark night.
Oh, do look up at the sky,
To pay your tribute to the new full moon!

Nillasi Liyanage,
Gr. 8D,
Musaeus College,
Colombo 7.

Folk tales of Sri Lanka:

The magic paintbrush

Retold by R. S. Karunaratne

Once upon a time there lived a poor family in a remote village.

Mother fell ill and after sometime she died leaving her husband and her young son.

Father was unemployed. His wife's death caused him extreme emotional and psychological distress. After suffering from severe malnutrition he too passed away. Thus the ten-year-old son became an orphan.

Laminduva - the orphan - had very little schooling. Without anyone to care for him, the boy felt extremely sad and alone. He used to sleep most of the time as he had no work to do.

One day while Laminduva was fast asleep, his father appeared in a dream. The appearance of his father startled the boy.

"Don't be alarmed by my sudden appearance, I couldn't give you any comforts as I was unemployed. Now I am in another world where I don't have to work. But I can help you in some way...", father said.

"Where's mother? I want to see her. I am alone in this house. I have nothing to eat..." son started crying.

"Don't worry, my son. Find a paintbrush and paper and paint anything you want," said father disappearing into thin air.

Laminduva visited many artists in the village but nobody wanted to give him a paintbrush or paper.

Finally he met an old painter who readily gave him a paintbrush, drawing paper and some paint.

Laminduva ran home and started painting. He painted a beautiful house and went to bed.

On the following day he found himself living in the beautiful house he had painted.

Thereafter, Laminduva drew and painted many things he wanted and everything was materialized. He was no longer a poor village boy. He started living a very happy life.

Meanwhile, a gang of robbers became curious about everything that happened to Laminduva. So they kidnapped the child.

While in captivity the child was asked to paint gold coins, gems and many other precious objects. Everything he painted became real.

One day the robbers ordered Laminduva to paint a golden ship full of precious gems. When he painted it, it became a real ship and the robbers were extremely happy.

The robbers decided to sail in the golden ship and boarded it. While they were in the mid-sea, Laminduva covered the golden ship he had painted with black paint. Suddenly the ship and the robbers disappeared in the sea.

Laminduva became a young man, got married to a beautiful village damsel and lived happily thereafter for a long time.

Invention:

Velcro - the fastener

Instead of a zipper, your bag may have two nylon strips to press together. Or, instead of laces your shoes too might have two nylon strips.

These strips which work as two-sided fasteners are called velcros.

Do you know who discovered this special kind of fastener. He is George de Mestral from Switzerland.

By profession an electrical engineer, George de Mestral one day took his dog for a hike in the mountains. It was the summer 1948.

When the Master and the dog returned home there were burrs (seed pods) sticking to the dog's fur and De Mestral's trousers.

The engineer was intrigued by the burrs' ability to hold on tightly to clothes, and put one under the microscope. He soon discovered the burr's secret: its outer surface was covered with minuscule hooks that could easily latch on to loops in fabrics or fur.

It occurred to him that he could create a two-sided fastener based on the same principle.

The fastener would have hooks on one side and loops on the other.

Eventually he gave to the world the fastener that he named "velcro'.

If your bag has no zipper or your shoes no laces but are closed or fastened just by pressing two nylon strips together, remember de Mestral. He would have turned 100 this year.