Folk tales of Sri Lanka

Astrologer’s death

Retold by R.S. Karunaratne

Long time ago there lived a king who believed in astrology. However, he feared astrologers who could predict the future could also make things happen.

One day the king thought that he should get rid of all the astrologers in his kingdom. Then he sent a royal messenger who announced that all the astrologers in the country should call at the palace on the following day as the king wished to honour them.

On hearing this all the astrologers visited the palace and sat in a semi - circle in front of the king.

“You all claim to be leading astrologers. I am going to ask a simple question. Those who fail to give the correct answer will be banished from the country,” said the king.

The astrologers bowed their heads and waited eagerly for the king’s question.

Then the king ordered one of his guards to bring a bag of papaws. He picked a papaw from the bag and gave it to the first astrologer who sat in the semi-circle.

“Now take this into your hand and tell me how many seeds are there inside the fruit”.

“Your majesty, there are so many seeds. I’m unable to give the exact figure”, the first astrologer said.

The king posed the question to other astrologers as well, but nobody, except Ganithaya, ventured to give an answer.

The king looked at Ganithaya and asked for his answer.

“Sire, there are only two seeds inside this papaw. One is not properly developed and is useless,” Ganithaya said.

The king ordered one of his guards to cut open the papaw. Lo and behold!. There were only two seeds. One seed was underdeveloped and useless. The other was normal.

The king was surprised. He also feared that Ganithaya might try to be the king using his powers of astrology.

“You are a dangerous wizard,” said the king and ordered the executioner to behead him immediately.

“Your Majesty, I accept your verdict. However, give me three minutes to cast my own horoscope. I can do it mentally.

When the king allowed his appeal Ganithaya mentally cast his own horoscope and realised that he had only three hours to live.

“Sire, please give me three hours to live. That’s my last wish.”

The king consented to give him three hours to live. Ganithaya closed his eyes and went into a trance.

At the end of three hours Ganithaya fell dead at the king’s feet. And the king heaved a sigh of relief.

‘Stamp on stamp’ theme with important historical, cultural background

Francis P. Gunasekera

“Stamp on stamp” theme has an important historical and cultural background. This is quite evident from the attractive souvenir sheet which the Postal Department issued on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the first postage of Sri Lanka. It was on April 1, 1857 that the first stamp was issued in our country.

The souvenir sheet was designed by Pulasthi Ediriweera one of our versatile artists who has designed a number of attractive stamps during the past number of years. In the process of collecting, “Stamp on Stamp” theme one gets to know most of the very old stamps of many countries.

The first such stamp came out from great Britain in 1940. It was to mark the 100th anniversary of the ‘penny black’ which was issued on May 6, 1840. Thereafter, a number of other countries started celebrating centenaries of their first stamps.

The souvenir sheet issued to mark the 150 years of Sri Lanka stamps should be appreciated as a superb art-work which brings out history as connected with the stamps shown in them.

We should praise the art-work of Pulasthi Ediriweera for that interesting creation. It is our duty to put on a high pedestal of appreciation such good art work to be repeated in future too for the benefit of our country.

We have also shown separately a number of stamps on the same theme under discussion. It is observed that only a few collectors go in search of such stamps and we must commend that more and more collectors should show greater interest towards them.

Most of the stamps shown here depict the very old stamps of the particular country. It will be interesting to find out years when such stamps came out as the required information is available in the stamps themselves.

Queen Victoria pence issues of our country are regarded as precious gems in other countries and fetch as much as Rs. 1000 or more per copy.

The collectors owning such stamps are as rare as the stamps and to own at least one is to crown the whole collection majestically.