The Flag of Sri Lanka

The Flag of Sri Lanka

The flag of Sri Lanka, also known as the Lion Flag or Sinha Flag, features a gold lion holding a kastane sword in its right fore-paw in a maroon background with four gold bo leaves in each corner. This is bordered by yellow, and to its left are two vertical stripes of green and saffron. The flag symbolizes the courage of the Sinhalese, with the four bo leaves representing the four main concepts of Buddhism, and the stripes signify the country's major religions.

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History of The Flag of Sri Lanka

The flag of Sri Lanka has evolved significantly over time, with its origins tracing back to 486 BC when a lion flag was supposedly introduced by Vijaya, the first King of Sri Lanka. The current design was officially adopted on May 22, 1972, following the country's declaration of republic status. Previously, the flag included only the lion symbol and the bo leaves, without the stripes. The addition of the green and saffron stripes was recommended by a committee appointed in 1948, after Sri Lanka gained independence from British rule, to represent the country's ethnic diversity, including the Tamil (green) and Muslim (saffron) communities, alongside the majority Sinhalese (maroon).

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