Sri Lanka, Oct. 10 -- Beneath the shade of the old banyan trees on Reid Avenue, the spirit of Royal College Colombo lives in paper, ink, and memory. The annual Philex exhibition, organized by the Royal College Philatelic Club, has for decades transformed the school into a vibrant meeting place for collectors and storytellers.

For 81 years, the club has turned the simple act of collecting stamps into a celebration of history and creativity. This year, it marked a proud milestone, honoring the school's 190th anniversary along with the 56th Royal Postal Day.

What began as a small group of students in 1944 has grown into one of South Asia's oldest philatelic traditions, linking generations through the stories told by stamps.

With over 1...