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List of Sri Lankan flags

None

This is a list of flags used in Sri Lanka.

National Flag

Flag	Date	Use	Description
[[File:Flag of Sri Lanka.svg	border	150px]]	1972 –	Flag of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka	Modified flag of the Dominion of Ceylon. Used since the proclamation of the Republic in 1972.
[[File:Flag of Sri Lanka vertical.png	150px]] [[File:Flag of Sri Lanka vertical v2.svg	150px]]	1972 –	Flag of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (vertical)

Presidential Flags (1972–2022)

This flag was personal to every President of Sri Lanka, and as such the design changed when a new president assumed office.

On 15 July 2022, the acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe abolished the presidential flag.

Flag	Date	Use
[[File:President Gopallawa's flag.gif	border	150px]]	22 May 1972 – 4 February 1978	Presidential flag of William Gopallawa
[[File:Junius Jayawardene's flag.gif	border	150px]]	4 February 1978 – 2 January 1989	Presidential flag of J. R. Jayewardene
[[File:Ranasinghe Premadasa's flag .gif	border	150px]]	2 January 1989 – 1 May 1993	Presidential flag of Ranasinghe Premadasa
[[File:DBWijethunge President Standard .jpg	border	150px]]	1 May 1993 – 12 November 1994	Presidential flag of D. B. Wijetunga
[[File:Presidential Flag of Chandrika Kumaratunga.gif	border	150px]]	12 November 1994 – 19 November 2005	Presidential flag of Chandrika Kumaratunga
[[File:Presidential Flag of Mahinda Rajapaksa.gif	border	150px]]	19 November 2005 – 9 January 2015	Presidential flag of Mahinda Rajapaksa
[[File:Presidential Standard of Sri Lanka (Maithripala Sirisena).svg	border	150px]]	9 January 2015 – 18 November 2019	Presidential flag of Maithripala Sirisena
[[File:Presidential Standard of Sri Lanka (Gotabaya Rajapaksa).gif	border	150px]]	18 November 2019 – 14 July 2022	Presidential flag of Gotabaya Rajapaksa

Civil Ensigns

Flag	Date	Use	Description
[[File:Government Ensign of Sri Lanka.svg	border	150px]]	1972 –	Blue Ensign of Sri Lanka	A blue ensign with the Flag of Sri Lanka in the canton influenced by the British design. The Blue Ensign is flown by merchant vessels commanded by an officer of the SLVNF.

Military Flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
[[File:Flag_of_the_Sri_Lankan_Army.png	150px]]	1972 –	Flag of the Sri Lanka Army	The army flag defaced with the insignia of the Sri Lanka Army.
[[File:Naval Ensign of Sri Lanka.svg	border	150px]]	1972 –	Naval Ensign of Sri Lanka	A defaced white ensign with the flag of Sri Lanka in the canton influenced by the British design.
[[File:Air Force Ensign of Sri Lanka.svg	border	150px]]	2010 –	Air Force Ensign of Sri Lanka	A defaced sky blue ensign with the flag of Sri Lanka in the canton and Air Force roundel influenced by the British design.
[[File:Colours of the Sri Lanka Air Force.svg	border	150px]]	2010 –	Air Force Colours of Sri Lanka	Sri Lanka Air Force ensign with the four vertical stripes of saffron, green, maroon, and yellow in the centre, and superimposed by Sri Lanka national emblem.
[[File:SLA SLAC flag.png	border	150px]]	1955 -	Flag of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps	Sri Lanka Armoured Corps emblem in the centre with the three vertical stripes of black, white.
[[File:Flag of Gajaba Regiment.svg	border	150px]]	1983 -	Flag of the Gajaba Regiment
[[File:Flag of the Sri Lanka Army Seva Vanitha Unit.svg	border	150px]]	1984 -	Flag of the Sri Lanka Army Seva Vanitha Unit
[[File:Flag of Sri Lanka Civil Security Force.svg	border	150px]]	1986 -	Flag of Sri Lanka Civil Security Force
[[File:Flag of the Sinha Regiment.svg	border	150px]]	? – Present	Flag of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
[[File:Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force Flag.png	border	150px]]	? – Present	Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force	A yellow field defaced with a central black emblem featuring a standing elephant above a pair of crossed swords, with two ornate ceremonial swords below and a black scroll bearing Sri Lanka Army - Volunteer Force.

Former Military Flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
Post-independence era flags
[[File:Flag of the Ceylon army (1949–1966).jpg	border	150px]]	1949–1966	First Flag of the Ceylon Army
[[File:Flag of Commander of the Ceylon Army.png	border	150px]]	1949–1966	Flag of the Commander in Chief
[[File:War Flag of Ceylon.svg	border	150px]]	1949–1966	War Flag
[[File:Second Flag of the Ceylon Army (1966–1972).jpg	border	150px]]	1966–1972	Second Flag of the Ceylon Army
[[File:Naval Ensign of the Royal Ceylon Navy.svg	border	150px]]	1950–1972	Ensign of the Royal Ceylon Navy
[[File:Ensign of the Royal Ceylon Air Force.svg	border	150px]]	1951–1972	Ensign of the Royal Ceylon Air Force
[[File:Air Force Ensign of Sri Lanka (1971-2010).svg	border	150px]]	1971 – 2010	Ensign of the Sri Lanka Air Force
[[File:Colours of the Sri Lanka Air Force 1971-2010.svg	border	150px]]	1971 – 2010	Unit colour of the Sri Lanka Air Force
Kotte-Kandyan era flags
[[File:Gajanayake Flag.png	border	150px]]	? – 1815	Flag of the Supreme Commander of the Kandyan Royal Army	A white field bordered in maroon and defaced with a stylized black ceremonial elephant adorned with decorative trappings and carrying a flower in its trunk.
[[File:Aspantiye Flag.png	border	150px]]	? – 1815	Flag of the Commander over the Cavalry
[[File:Davunde Flag of Kandy.svg	border	150px]]	? – 1815	Flag of the Royal Army/Guard	A red field defaced with an array of golden weapons and a drum including a disc-weapon, a bow, a sword, an axe, and a scabbard on a sky-blue border.
[[File:Tamboru Purampettukara Flag.svg	border	150px]]	? – 1815	Flag of the Officer over the Trumpeters and Drummers
[[File:Kodithuwakku Flag.png	150px]]	? – 1815	Flag of the Commander of the Royal Gingalls
[[File:Wedikkara Flag.png	150px]]	? – 1815	Flag of the Captain of the Royal Musketeers
[[File:Wadanatuwakkukara Flag.png	150px]]	? – 1815	Flag of Officer in charge of the Sharpshooters

Government Flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
[[File:Flag of the Sri Lanka Police.svg	border	150px]]	1972 –	Flag of the Sri Lanka Police
[[File:Sri Lankan Coast Guard Flag.svg	border	150px]]	2010 –	Flag of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard
[[File:STF Ensign of Sri Lanka.svg	150px]]	? – Present	Ensign of the Sri Lanka Special Task Force (STF)
[[File:Sri Lanka Customs Flag.svg	border	150px]]	? – Present	Flag of the Sri Lanka Customs
[[File:Sri Lanka Port Authority Flag.svg	border	150px]]	? – Present	Flag of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority
[[File:Sri Lanka Transporation Board (SLTB) Flag 01.svg	border	150px]]	? – Present	Flag of the Sri Lanka Transport Board

Former Government Flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
[[File:Sri Lankan Coast Guard Previous Flag.svg	border	150px]]	? – 2010	Flag of the Sri Lanka Guard Coast

Sporting Flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
[[File:Flag of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka.svg	border	150px]]	? – Present	Flag of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka
[[File:Flag of Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation.svg	border	150px]]	? – Present	Flag of the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation
[[File:Flag of Sri Lanka Cricket.svg	border	150px]]	? – Present	Flag of the Sri Lanka Cricket
[[File:Flag of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka.svg	border	150px]]	? – Present	Flag of the Sri Lanka Football Federation
[[File:Flag of Sri Lanka Rugby.svg	border	150px]]	? – Present	Flag of the Sri Lanka Rugby

Other Flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
[[File:Flag of the Sri Lankan Red Cross Society.svg	border	150px]]	? – Present	Flag of the Sri Lanka Red Cross

Provincial Flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
[[File:Central Province.png	border	150px]]	November 14, 1987 –	Flag of Central Province	The flag is designed to represents the Central Province and its three districts Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya.
[[File:Eastern Province Flag (SRI LANKA).png	border	150px]]	January 1, 2007 –	Flag of Eastern Province
[[File:Flag of the North Central Province (Sri Lanka).PNG	border	150px]]	November 14, 1987 –	Flag of North Central Province
[[File:Flag of the Northeast Province (Sri Lanka).png	border	150px]]	November 14, 1987 – December 31, 2006	Flag of North Eastern Province	Was adapted as the Flag of the North Province after the demerger of the North-Eastern Province
[[File:Flag of the Northern Province.svg	border	150px]]	January 1, 2007 –	Flag of Northern Province	Blue border – ocean resource; Green – the greenery and agriculture; Red – labour, industriousness and Hindu culture, religion; White – fraternity, peace; Radiating sun indicates synergy of power and natural energy source, also Tamil people and language in the Province
[[File:Flag of the North Western Province (Sri Lanka).svg	border	150px]]	November 14, 1987 –	Flag of North Western Province	It features a brown bovine with a sun and moon symbol on a white background. There are 15 small eight-pointed cross-stars in the background, and a green and brown woven border surrounds the whole.
[[File:Flag of the Sabaragamuwa Province (Sri Lanka).PNG	border	150px]]	November 14, 1987 –	Flag of Sabaragamuwa Province
[[File:Flag of the Southern Province (Sri Lanka).PNG	border	150px]]	November 14, 1987 –	Flag of Southern Province	A picture of a lion flag can be seen in frescos in the historical Dambulla Cave temple. This historical flag made of carving a picture of a running lion with a small sword in its forepaw is considered to be the Ruhuna flag.
[[File:Flag of the Uva Province (Sri Lanka).svg	border	150px]]	November 14, 1987 –	Flag of Uva Province	In the days of the Sinhala kings, Sri Lanka had been divided into twelve provinces and ruled and each of these twelve provinces had been allotted a flag. Accordingly, in order to bring about qualities such as pleasantness, innocence, greatness and royalty, a flag with a picture of swan had been allotted to the Uva Province.
[[File:Western Province Flag (SRI LANKA).png	border	150px]]	November 14, 1987 –	Flag of Western Province

Historical flags

Sinhala Kingdom flags (Main Kingdoms' Flags)

Flag	Date	Use	Description
[[File:Flag of Dutthagamani.png	150px]] [[File:Flag of King Dutugemunu.svg	150px]]	437 BC-1017 AD	Flag of the Anuradhapura Kingdom	Flag of King Dutugamunu (161-137 B.C.) and it's known as the Flag of the Anuradhapura Kingdom. The flag believed to have been used by Sinhala king Dutthagamani (Dutugamunu) and subsequent monarchs.
[[File:Mahasena's Flag v2.png	150px]]	273-301 AD	State Flag or Personal Banner of King Mahasena	Flag or Personal Banner of King Mahasena from the Anuradhapura Kingdom. Known in Sinhala as සෙවුල් කොඩිය (Sevul Kodiya), the flag features a rooster eating a snake. It also includes the sun and moon emblems, traditional royal insignia of Sinhala monarchs.
	1055-1232 AD	Flag of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa
	1220-1345 AD	Flag of the Kingdom of Dambadeniya
	1273–1284 AD	Flag of the Kingdom of Dambadeniya;Rule from Yapahuwa as a capital
	1300-1341 AD	Flag of the Kingdom of Dambadeniya;Rule from Kurunegala as a capital
[[File:Flag of Kingdom of Gampola.svg	border	150px]]	1341–1408	Flag of the Kingdom of Gampola
[[File:Flag of Kotte.svg	border	150px]]	1412–1597	Flag of the Kingdom of Kotte	A plain white field with ornate blue and red leaved white border and a lion with a whip at the centre.
[[File:Flag of Sitawaka Kingdom (1521 - 1594).png	border	150px]]	1521–1594	Flag of the Kingdom of Sitawaka	A white field with a red lion in the centre and 4 bo leaves in each corner.
[[File:King_of_Kandy.svg	border	150px]]	1469–1815	Flag of Kingdom of Kandy	The flag adopted was the royal standard and featured a gold and black bordered red field with Bo leaves and lion with a sword. This is similar to the right portion of the modern flag.

Sub-Kingdoms Flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
[[File:Flag of the Kingdom of Raigama.svg	border	150px]]	1521-1538	Flag of the Kingdom of Raigama	A Red Field With Golden Border and a Peacock fighting a Snake in the center.
[[File:Nandi flag.png	border	150px]]	1215–1255,1323-1450 & 1467-1619	Flag of the Jaffna Kingdom	The silver crescent moon with a golden sun. The single sacred conch shell, which spiral open to the right, and in the centre above the sacred bull, is a white parasol with golden tassels and white pearls.

[[Portuguese Ceylon]] Flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description	Iberian Union
[[File:Flag of Portugal (1495).svg	border	150px]]	1508–1521	Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal	A white field with the Portuguese coat of arms in the center.
[[File:Flag of Portugal (1521).svg	border	150px]]	1521–1578	Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal	A white field with the Portuguese coat of arms in the center.
[[File:Flag of Portugal (1578).svg	border	150px]]	1578–1640	Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal	A white field with the Portuguese coat of arms in the center.
[[File:Flag of Portugal (1616).svg	border	150px]]	1616–1640	Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal (Putative flag)	A white field with the Portuguese Coat of arms in the center.
[[File:Flag of Portugal (1640).svg	border	150px]]	1640–1658	Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal	A white field with the Portuguese coat of arms in the center.
	1580-1640	Flag of the Iberian Union	A red saltire resembling two crossed, roughly pruned (knotted) branches, on a white field.
	1580-1640	Banner of Arms the Iberian Union	House of Austria (with the arms of Portugal
	1580-1640	Royal Flag of the Iberian Union	A red saltire field the royal arms in center.

[[Dutch Ceylon]] Flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
[[File:Flag of the Dutch East India Company.svg	border	150px]]	1630–1796	Dutch East India Company Flag	A horizontal triband of red, white and blue with letters VOC in the middle.
[[File:Prinsenvlag.svg	border	150px]]	1638–1795	The Prince's Flag	A horizontal triband of orange, white and blue.
[[File:Statenvlag.svg	border	150px]]	1652–1672	States Flag	A horizontal triband of red, white and blue.
[[File:Flag of the Batavian Republic.svg	border	150px]]	1795–1796	Flag of the Batavian Republic	A horizontal triband of red, white and blue with the Republic's emblem in the canton.

[[British Ceylon]] Flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
[[File:Flag of Great Britain (1707–1800).svg	border	150px]]	1796–1801	Flag of the Kingdom of Great Britain (Should be considered:- This is not an ancient Sri Lankan flag. Because at that time there was a major Sinhalese kingdom in Sri Lanka. Its king is considered the king of the entire country.)	A superimposition of the flags of England and Scotland (Union Jack).
[[File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg	border	150px]]	1801–1972	Flag of the United Kingdom (Should be considered:- This is not an ancient Sri Lankan flag in 1801-1815 period. Because at that time there was a major Sinhalese kingdom in Sri Lanka. Its king is considered the king of the entire country.)	A superimposition of the flags of England and Scotland with the Saint Patrick's Saltire (representing Ireland) (Union Jack).
[[File:Royal standard of the United Kingdom.svg	border	150px]]	1832–1948	Royal Standard of the United Kingdom
[[File:Flag of Ceylon (1875–1948).svg	border	150px]]	1875–1948	Flag of Ceylon's Colonial Government	A defaced blue ensign with the Arms of the Ceylon Government.
[[File:Locally appliqued flag of Ceylon.svg	border	150px]]	Early 19th Century	Flag of Ceylon (Local)	A locally crafted Ceylon flag.
[[File:Flag of Ceylon (1948–1951).svg	border	150px]]	1948–1951	The first flag of the Dominion of Ceylon	The Royal Standard of the Kandyan Kingdom, the last kingdom of Sri Lanka.
[[File:Flag of Ceylon (1951–1972).svg	border	150px]]	1951–1972	The second flag of the Dominion of Ceylon	Defaced flag of Kandyan Kingdom, the last kingdom of Sri Lanka.

Ensigns

Flag	Date	Use	Description
[[File:Civil Ensign of Sri Lanka.svg	border	150px]]	1955 – 1969	Civil Ensign of Sri Lanka	A red ensign with the Flag of Sri Lanka in the canton influenced by the British design.

Royal Standards

Flag	Date	Use	Description
[[File:Flag of Dutthagamani.png	150px]] [[File:Flag of King Dutugemunu.svg	150px]]	161 BC – 137 BC	Flag of King Dutugamunu, as depicted in the Dambulla Viharaya cave no.2	A white swallowtailed field with a Lion holding a Kastane sword in its right forepaw and the Sun and the Moon above.
[[File:Mahasena's Flag v2.png	150px]]	273 – 301	Royal Standard of Mahasena of Anuradhapura
[[File:Flag of Kotte.svg	border	150px]]	1415 – 1457	Military Standard of Parakramabahu VI of Kotte
[[File:Royal Standard of Rajasinha I.svg	border	150px]]	1581 – 1593	Royal Standard of Rajasinha I
[[File:King of Kandy.svg	border	150px]]	c.1798 – 1815	Royal Standard of King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha
[[File:Personal flag of Gongalegoda Banda.svg	border	150px]]	1848	Royal Standard of Gongalegoda Banda "Sri Wickrama Siddhipathi"

Political Party

Flag	Date	Use	Description
[[File:UNP flag.png	border	150px]]	1946–Present	The flag of the UNP
[[File:SLPF Flag.png	border	150px]]	1951–Present	The flag of the SLPF
[[File:NPP flag.png	border	150px]]	2019–Present	The flag of the NPP
[[File:JVP Flag.png	border	150px]]	1965–Present	The flag of the JVP
[[File:Flag of the Federal Party of Sri Lanka.svg	border	150px]]	1949–Present	The flag of the "Federal Party of Sri Lanka" / ITAK
[[File:Flag of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress.png	border	150px]]	1981–Present	The flag of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress

Religious Flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
[[File:Flag of Buddhism.svg	border	150px]]	1885–Present	Flag of Buddhism	Blazon: Paly Azure, Or, Gules, Argent, Orange, barry Azure, Or, Gules, Argent, Orange.
[[File:Sri Lankan Catholic flag.svg	border	150px]]	?–Present	Flag of the Sri Lankan Roman Catholics	A Nestorian Cross from the Anuradhapura Era on a white field with Yellow.

Viceregal Flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
[[File:Flag of the Governor-General of Ceylon (1953-1972).svg	border	150px]]	1953–1972	Flag of the governor–general of Ceylon	A lion standing atop a St Edward's Crown, over "Ceylon"
[[File:Flag of the Governor-General of Ceylon (1948-1953).svg	border	150px]]	1948–1953	Flag of the governor–general of Ceylon	A lion standing atop a Tudor Crown, over "Ceylon"
[[File:Flag of the Governor of Ceylon (1875–1948).svg	border	150px]]	1875–1948	Flag of the governor of Ceylon	A Union Flag defaced with arms of the Ceylon Government.

Sri Lankan Shipping Company

Flag	Date	Use	Description
[[File:Flag of Ceylon Shipping Company.png	border	150px]]	1971–Present	Ceylon Shipping Company

Sri Lankan Yacht Clubs

Flag	Club
[[File:Yachting Association of Sri Lanka Flag.png	border	150px]]	Yachting Association of Sri Lanka
[[File:Ceylon Motor Yacht Club Flag.png	border	150px]]	Ceylon Motor Yacht Club

References

"The Sri Lankan National Flag".
"Sri Lanka - Presidents flags".
"Will ensure all MPs exercise their free will to elect new President: RW - Latest News".
"The Island - News".
Seneviratna, Anuradha. (1983). "Golden Rock Temple of Dambulla: Caves of infinite Buddhas". Central Cultural Fund.

Info: Wikipedia Source

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