BREAKING NEWS: Britain apologizes over LTTE stamp

( January 13, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Britain’s Royal Mail has apologized to Sri Lanka after some stamps were issued with images of LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabakaran, the Sri Lankan High Commission in London said.

The High Commission said that attention had been drawn to the recent news item published in pro-LTTE media and some sections of the Sri Lankan media that an LTTE front organization has been able to get a stamp released by Royal Mail, the postal authority in the UK, with a photograph of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabakaran.

The High Commission immediately contacted the Royal Mail. The Royal Mail has explained that in the UK, an individual can personalize their mail by combining a Royal Mail stamp with a photograph of an individual through their “Smiler Service”.

Upon receipt of Sri Lanka’s concerns in this regard given that the LTTE is a proscribed organization in the UK, the Royal Mail has investigated the matter immediately and confirmed to us that they promptly cancelled an account set up by the individual.

Royal Mail has further stated that a small number of these “Smiler Stamps” had been posted to the customer, but all further orders have been cancelled forthwith.

Royal Mail has apologized for any distress caused in this regard, the High Commission said.

Here full text of the statement issued by the Government of Sri Lanka;

Attention of the Sri Lanka High Commission in London has been drawn to the recent news item published in pro-LTTE media and some sections of the Sri Lankan media that a LTTE front organization has been able to get a stamp released by Royal Mail, the postal authority in the UK, with a photograph of LTTE leader, late Velupillai Prabakaran.

The High Commission immediately contacted the Royal Mail. The Royal Mail has explained that in the UK, an individual can personalize their mail by combining a Royal Mail stamp with a photograph of an individual through their “Smiler Service”.

Upon receipt of Sri Lanka’s concerns in this regard given that the LTTE is a proscribed organization in the UK, the Royal Mail has investigated the matter immediately and confirmed to us that they promptly cancelled an account set up by the individual. Royal Mail has further stated that a small number of these “Smiler Stamps” had been posted to the customer, but all further orders have been cancelled forthwith.

Royal Mail has apologized for any distress caused in this regard.

Sri Lanka High Commission
13, Hyde Park Gardens
London W2 2LU
12 January 2012