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60 years of Russia-SL diplomatic ties: SL to issue stamp 2 months after Russia
View(s):![stamp](http://www.sundaytimes.lk/180107/uploads/stamp.jpg)
Video grab of the two stamps issued by Russia Post in December
Sri Lanka is set to issue the first day cover commemorative stamp to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Russia, two months after Russia issued its stamp. The Foreign Ministry stated that the issuance of the commemorative stamp has been scheduled for next month, at the request of the Sri Lanka-Russia Parliamentary Friendship Association.
“The Association, in October 2017, had informed the Philatelic Bureau of the Department of Posts of its intention to issue a stamp at a special event to be held in February 2018,” the Ministry said. The stamp will feature a cave temple/monastery in the Russian Federation and in Sri Lanka, the statement explained “Sri Lanka has already identified the Golden Cave Temple of Dambulla as the image that will be featured on the stamp. The Russian Federation is expected to share the image of a heritage site in the Russian Federation that is to be depicted on the stamp, shortly,” it added.
Russia Post issued two postage stamps dedicated to the anniversary in December. The first day cover had two stamps, one depicting the Dambulu Vhiaraya and the other the Orthodox Bakhchisaray Holy Assumption Monastery. Earlier the Posts Ministry said that the Foreign Ministry had instructed them to hold back the issue of the stamp, with no reasons given.
The stamp was issued in Russia during the controversy over Sri Lanka’s Tea exports to Russia being suspended after Sri Lanka was set to impose a ban on asbestos imported from Russia. Sri Lanka eventually deferred the date of the implementation of the proposal and Russia too lifted the suspension on Tea imports.