Flag

Sri Lanka flag has two vertical stripes of equal size in saffron and green colors, to the left. To the right of the stripes is a gold lion passant in crimson background, with a sword in its right fore paw. Ringing the background is a yellow border, with four golden bo leaves in each corner. The flag of Sri Lanka is also known as Lion Flag. The lion symbol was used by the Lankan rulers from the time of King Vijaya. Sri Lanka flag keep the country united and integrates majority with the minority.


Adoptation
Flag of Sri Lanka was adopted in 1950. A committee appointed by the 1st Prime Minister of Sri Lanka D.S. Senanayake recommended it being adopted.

Symbolism

Lion	Sinhalese ethnicity
Green color	Islamic minority
Orange color	Hindu Tamils
Leaves	Buddhism
Sword	Authority and sovereignity of the Republic

Symbol	Represents
The lion	The Sinhalese ethnicity
The bo leaves	Buddhism and its influence on the nation. They also stand for the four virtues of Kindness, Friendliness, Happiness and Equanimity.
The sword of the lion	The sovereignty of the nation
The tail of the lion	The noble eightfold path of Buddhism
The curly hair on the lion's head	Religious observance, wisdom and meditation
The beard of the lion	Purity of words
The handle of the sword	The elements of water, fire, air and earth
The nose of the lion	Intelligence
The two front paws of the lion	Purity in handling wealth.
The vertical orange stripe	The Tamil ethnicity
The vertical green stripe	The Muslim faith and Moorish ethnicity
The yellow border round the flag	The Buddhist clergy
The crimson background	Other minor religions