COLOMBO, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka on Friday issued two postage stamps bearing the
portrait of science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke to mark 50 years of communications in the
country, officials said.

``I certainly never imagined when I sorted the mail in (my hometown) Bishops Lydeard Post
Office 65 years ago that there would someday be stamps bearing my portrait,'' Clarke told a
ceremony to honour the occasion.

Clarke worked at the post office in southwestern Britain in his school days.

The official release of the stamps took place at Colombo's landmark Galle Face Hotel where
Clarke wrote his best seller ``3001:The Final Odyssey.''

In addition to the portraits of Clarke, the stamps of 3.50 rupees (0.05 US cents) carry also
show an outline of the geo-stationary orbit communications satellites and spacecraft.

British-born Clarke, who has lived in Colombo for more than 30 years, is the author of
scores of novels and science-fiction books and the creator of several documentaries.

(US$ - 69.27 rupees)

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