If any letters with stamps containing symbols of LTTE are received steps will be taken to remove the stamps and distribute the letters, the Postmaster General M.K.B. Dissanayake said.

He stated that the UN-affiliated Universal Postal Union (UPU) has also been requested to stop the circulation of such stamps’.

According to the UPU, all countries are obligated to accept and distribute post with stamps printed by a certain country, he pointed out.

“However, as soon as information is received regarding stamps depicting images which threaten the sovereignty of the country, the Central Postal Exchange has been instructed to document them, remove the stamps and distribute the letters to the relevant persons.”

Stamps baring images related to LTTE were also issued in Canada and Britain in addition to the four personalized stamps issued in France.

External Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peiris had registered the country’s protest to the stamps in question with the Ambassador of France to Sri Lanka while La Poste had apologized for printing the collection of stamps “by mistake”.

Mr. Dissanayake stated that protest has been expressed to the other establishments which issued similar stamps as well.