Flag of Sri Lanka
The flag of Sri Lanka, also known as " Lion Flag " was officially adopted on 17 December 1978.
Description and significance
The national flag of Sri Lanka is a golden lion in front of a wine-red background, holding a sword ( kastane ) in his right front paw. In each of the four corners of the flag part of the golden leaf of a bodhi tree can be seen, the blade tips are directed to the lion in the center. The lion stands for bravery, while the four leaves the four Buddhist " heavenly Verweilzustände " Metta ( kindness ), Karuna ( compassion ), Mudita ( sympathetic joy ) and upekkha ( equanimity ) symbolize. In the left part of the flag of two equal vertical stripes are placed in the colors of green ( hoist side ), and Saffron are maintained and represent the two major minority groups of the state. The saffron stripe represents the ethnic group of Tamils , the green for the Muslim inhabitants of Sri Lanka. The wine-red background stands for the blood shed of the people of the country. The yellow frames surrounding the flag as well as the strip, on the other hand represents the peace that longs the country.
History
The lion is a symbol of the people of the majority Sinhalese, which derives its name from the Sanskrit word for "lion" ( singha ). The right part of today's flag with the golden lion goes back to a flag of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which existed until its annexation by the British in 1815. After the conquest of Kandy the British fell beside other banners a lion flag in his hands. Although one of the lion was only one among many the insignia of the Kandyan kings, the lion flag was interpreted by the British as the symbol of the kingdom conquered by them, and finally exhibited as a trophy at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
Against the backdrop of resurgent Sinhalese nationalism, which fell back heavily on the symbolism of the Kandyan Kingdom, the Lion Flag was promoted in the early 20th century to the national emblem of the Sinhalese. This was largely contributed to the lawyer EW Perera, who rediscovered on display in Chelsea flag and made known in two in 1909 and 1916 published articles. Soon the lion flag was - ahistorischerweise - dating back to the time of the mythical ancestor Vijaya 2500 years ago and understood as " always seen before " symbol of the Sinhalese.
After gaining independence in 1948, the lion flag was intended for national flag. The Parliament of Ceylon decided against the resistance of the Tamil politicians who saw expressed the supremacy claim of the Sinhalese in the introduction of Sinhala, understood as symbol that at independence celebration, the lion flag should be hoisted. The government continued but at the same time a committee that would determine the final design of the flag. As a result, in 1950 the two stripes on the left have been added that should symbolize a concession for the minority Tamils and Muslims. Originally, there was in each of the four corners of a spire. In 1972, the pinnacles were replaced by bodhi tree leaves. The leaves in the corners have been revised in 1978 to look more natural.
? Flag of Ceylon, 1948-1951
? Flag of Ceylon, 1951-1972
? former Seekriegsflagge Ceylon
More flags of Sri Lanka
? Seekriegsflagge
Army flag
Flag of the Air Force
See also Flag of Tamil Eelam