New Postage Stamp honours Ray Wijewardene

Ray Wijewardene was honoured by the Sri Lanka Post with a postage stamp and first day cover on 31 October 2014.

They were released during the opening ceremony of the Sahasak Nimavum 2014 national inventors exhibition, at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre. The event was organised by the Sri Lanka Inventors Commission (SLIC), where Ray served as Commissioner (head) many years ago.

The stamp and first day cover were presented to Ray’s daughter Anoma Wijewardene. Minister of Technology and Research, Patali Champika Ranawaka, and trustees of the Ray Wijewardene Trust were present.

The stamp, with the denomination of LKR 10, was designed by P. Isuru Chaturanga. The Philatelic Bureau of the Department of Posts has printed 500,000 stamps, according to official sources.

The Ray Wijewardene Trust had a special stall during the exhibition, which included a unit of the Land Master two-wheeled tractor that was designed by Ray in 1955

More information (including text of the first day cover leaflet) on Sri Lanka Stamps.lk

More about Sahasak Nimawum 2014

More images from the stamp launch event here

Short video produced by Sri Lanka Inventors Commission
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJU2ejQxod4

Media coverage

Daily Mirror, 31 Oct 2014: Honouring Ray Wijewardene

Sunday Times, 2 Nov 2014: Dr Ray Wijewardene honoured in stamp issue

Daily FT, 8 Nov 2014: ‘Man for All Elements’ honoured