I am a little philatelist

From a Funday Times Young Reporter

I love collecting stamps. I got into stamp collecting by accident. On that day we left for the village on the Ruhunu Kumari train. A German family boarded the train at Maradana station. I was six years old at the time. They sat next to us, and the older woman with them smiled and said ‘Hi.’

I became friends with them. “What is your hobby?” the lady asked me. I told her that my hobby was collecting stamps. She asked for my address, and she still sends me stamps from all over the world. I keep in touch with her online as much as I can.

A postage stamp is a mark placed on a letter or package being mailed to show that the postage has been paid. Stamps often have interesting designs, which is one of the reasons collecting them is such a great hobby for young children. It's true that not only children, but also adults, enjoy collecting stamps. It is a wonderful experience to keep the stamps neatly in a book or album, to look for stamps you don’t have, and to exchange them with friends.

I am registered with the Sri Lanka Stamp Bureau and I receive stamps issued by the Bureau throughout the year by mail. The envelope always comes with my name on it, and I really enjoy receiving it. Stamps are like books — each stamp can be enjoyed and read like a page in a book. Collecting stamps and books brings me great joy. By examining and learning about stamps, our knowledge increases a lot. Sometimes it’s a wonder just how much can be learned from such tiny stamps.

There are many things we can learn from collecting stamps. You don’t need a large collection to learn a lot; even with a few stamps, you can discover great details. A good stamp collection is like an encyclopedia — it tells the history of a country. It’s a wonderful way to explore world history, politics, culture, natural heritage, animal husbandry, industry, historical events, archaeology and much more. It also helps us learn about our country’s natural heritage — our forests, animals and streams, which are as valuable as anything in the world. Stamps also tell the story of our industries, nourished by our own abilities. They are like a silk road that connects our country to the world.

Using stamps is important for promoting tourism and attracting tourists easily, as it helps show the value and importance of our own heritage to the world. Collecting stamps is a great way for young children like me to learn on our own from an early age.

I have a large collection of stamps from countries like Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Japan, Germany and the United States of America. Whenever I receive a stamp that isn’t in my collection, I feel incredibly happy — it’s like getting a new storybook you’ve been waiting to read.

My brother and I collect stamps together. Stamp collecting is a very interesting hobby. With a small stamp, we can improve our knowledge, happiness and fun, as well as develop qualities like neatness, diligence and hard work. Stamps are also a good investment for the future.

Thenuri Keerthisena (Grade 10)
Maliyadeva B. V., Kurunegala