In commemoration of special events
Commemorative stamps, coins and banknotes are issued for important national events as lasting collectibles. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) this week issued a non circulating Legal Tender Rs.1000 copper nickel coin minted at the Royal Dutch Mint in the Netherlands to mark the 75th anniversary of independence on February 4, 2023. It was the 71st commemorative coin issued by the CB.
The first commemorative coin was the pair of coins issued in 1957 for the celebration of the 2500th year of the Buddhist Era. The first commemorative stamps in Ceylon were issued by the Postal Department along with most other British colonies in 1935 for the Silver Jubilee of King George V.
For the first anniversary of Independence on February 4th, 1949, four stamps were issued. Two of 5 cents and 25 cents depicting the country’s first Prime Minister D.S Senanayake, and the other two of 4 cents and 15 cents with the original Lion Flag.
The Philatelic Bureau was opened in 1967 to promote the collection of stamps. In 1968, two stamps of 5 cents and 1 rupee were issued for the 20th Anniversary of Independence.
After the Republic of Sri Lanka declared on May 22nd, 1972, that date took prominence in the celebration of independence. After 1978, with the inauguration of the first Executive President, February 4th was once again celebrated as our day of independence.
In 1998, for the 50th anniversary of independence 5 stamps, 3 coins and a commemorative banknote were issued. The stamps were of Rs 2, 2 x Rs 2.50, Rs 5 and Rs 10. The Rs 10 circulation coin is the only bimetallic, and the Rs 200 banknote is the only polymer so far issued by the Central Bank. The Rs 1,000 silver crown and a Rs 5,000 gold sovereign, the most valuable coin issued to that date.
In 2008, the 60th anniversary of Independence was marked with a Rs 5 stamp, and in 2018, the 70th, with a Rs 15 stamp and Rs 1000 banknote.
The 50th Anniversary of the Republican constitution in May 2022 was however forgotten with only a stamp issued as an afterthought in October 2022.
The 1998 Rs1000 coin was of the same size as the Rs 5 Buddha Jayanthi coin issued in 1957.
The Rs 5000 Sovereign which was the price of gold in 1998, has now risen to about Rs 170,000.
Commemorative stamps of D.S. Senanayake, Jawaharlal Nehru and Mohammad Ali Jinnah were issued on February 2nd. The motivation to include these leaders of India and Pakistan on our independence stamps is questionable. I understand it was at the direct request of the President. Maybe it is to counterbalance the unexpected issue of gold and silver coins of Rs 1000 in July 2021 by the CBSL to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party, which was the first time Sri Lanka coins were issued to celebrate any foreign anniversary, not associated with the United Nations.
Stamps for that event were rightfully declined by the postal authorities, which seem to have been unable to do so on this occasion. Very few Sri Lanka stamps have been issued with foreign dignitaries, the first being a 40 cent for Lenin in 1971. It is sad to see geopolitics recently influence the issue of commemoratives in Sri Lanka.