NATIONAL
FLAG
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Flag description
yellow
with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands
of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel is a large dark red
rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo
leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border around the
entire flag and extends between the two panels
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| The necessity
of a National Flag was discussed even before Sri Lanka gained
independence on February 4th, 1948. Mr. A. Sinnalebbe, MP for
Batticaloa tabled a motion in the State Council on January 16th,
1948 suggesting that the Lion Flag of King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe
which was taken to Britain in 1815 should be made the National
Flag. This was debated and later Prime Minister Rt. Hon. D.S.
Senanayake named an Advisory Committee for the formulation of a
National Flag. The Members of the Committee were Mr. S.W.R.D.
Bandaranaike (Chairmen), Sir John Kotalawela, Mr. J.R. Jayewardene,
Mr. T.B. Jayah, Dr. L.A. Rajapakse, Mr. G.G. Ponnambalam and
Senator S. Nadesan, and Dr. Senarath Paranavithana (Secretary).
Although a Committee for the formulation of a national flag was appointed no finality had been reached when the first Independence Day was celebrated on February 4th, 1948. However the Lion Flag fluttered on that day. The Lion Flag and the British Union Jack fluttered on the occasion of the opening of the first Parliament of independent Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) on February 11th, 1948. Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake unfurled the Lion Flag at the Octagon (Pattirippuwa) during the Independence celebrations held in Kandy on February 12th, 1948. The National Flag recommended by the special committee was presented to Parliament by Mr. D.S. Senanayake on March 2nd, 1951 and adopted. It had two strips, one green and the other yellow. Each of these strips had to be equal to one seventh the size of the flag. When Sri Lanka was first made a Republic in 1972 the stylized Bo Leaves depicted in the National Flag were changed to resemble natural Bo leaves. The amended flag was first unfurled at the Republic Day celebrations held on May 22nd, 1972. The National Flag is incorporated in Section 6 Second Schedule of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka of September 09th, 1978. Except for the new Bo leaves the present flag is the same flag recommended by the National Flag Formulation Committee on March 2nd, 1951. |
