The Lion Flag and its message of harmony
BY NEMSIRI Mutukumara
(Reproduced from the Daily News of February 4, 2002)
SRI LANKA steps into the 54th anniversary of regaining independence
from Britain. In fact the country was ceded to Britain on a treaty
called the Udarata Givisuma in 1815, and with that episode the total
control of the administration went into the hands of the British.
However, the Portuguese and the Dutch had been controlling the
maritime provinces from 1505 and that year marked the dawn of the dark
age in the near 3,000 years of freedom the people had enjoyed - freedom
from poverty, freedom of free education, freedom of indigenous cultural
activity and the freedom of religious worship.
On February 4, 1948, our people celebrated in much grandeur and
tremendous hope that they once again become the rulers of the land of
their birth.
In the previous year, 1947, with the promulgation of the Soulbury
Constitution, Sri Lanka was granted self-rule and Parliamentary General
Election was held on 19 days from August 23 to September 20. Mr. D. S.
Senanayake became the first Prime Minister of independent Sri Lanka.
On the triumphant historic first independence day, people across the
country from Kankesanturai to Kataragama and Puttalama to Potuvil
celebrated the event hoisting the 2,000-year-old Lion flag - the flag of
a heroic and fearless people.
The Lion flag was a genuine symbol of unity, harmony and friendship
of all people - the Sinhala, Tamil and the Yonaka of the ancient time
who are known as Moors.
When Duke of Gloucester representing his brother, King George VI of
England, came to Sri Lanka to officially declare Lanka's independence, a
royal ceremony was held at the Independence Square in an improvised
pavilion in the sprawling landmass near the Colombo Race Course.
Several thousand people who thronged at the place witnessed the
colourful ceremony of the Lion Flag which had been used by King
Dutugemunu and adopted by Lanka's subsequent Kings and Queens and which
was used by our last King Sri Wickrama Rajasinha as his Royal Standard
went up majestically on the flag staff at the Independence Square
heralding the birth of freedom of yet another Asian nation.
Already Myanmar, and India had achieved freedom from the British with
of course bi-furcating the Indian Sub-Continent into two with the
creation of Pakistan. Indonesia too had regained her freedom from the
Dutch.
Flags have played an important part in human life since the beginning
of recorded history, says William Crompton, Director of the Flag
Institute of England in his book, 'The Observers Book of Flags'.
Over 2,600 years ago the Buddha Sakyamuni had referred to in the
Dhajagga Sutra the use of flags. The flag is the identity of a nation, a
country or a kingdom.
The Lion Flag is considered the oldest national flag in the world.
Historically, the Lion Flag of King Dutugemunu is illustrated in the
cave 2 of the Golden Rock Temple of Dambulla the Rangiri Dambulu
Viharaya.
In Dambulla, there are a number of caves. Professor Anuradha
Seneviratne in his book Golden Rock Temple of Dambulla, states, 'caves
are donated to the Buddhist monks as dwelling places by various persons
such as Kings, Chiefs, Buddhist Monks and Nuns'.
Among the eight caves he has listed as important for understanding
the history, the cave No. 2 place centre stage. Illustrated in this cave
is the Lion Flag of King Dutugemunu.
Although a few petty minded critics used to attribute the Lion Flag
to one particular community, the fact of the flag is absolutely
different from such petty thinking.
Says, Lion H. M. Mervyn Herath in his valuable book titled 'The
National Flag and the National Anthem of Sri Lanka History and
Significance', in the following words: "The heraldic Lion standing
smartly holding a sword upright by its right paw stands for justice and
righteousness.
"Bordering this is a rectangular line with four bo-leaves at the four
corners symbolising Metta - compassion, Karuna - kindness, Mudita - joy
in other's prosperity and Upeksha - equanimity called four Brahma
Viharana or the highest standards of harmonious living.
And that was the flag which fluttered from the flagstaff in front of
the Sacred Dalada Mandiriya in Mahanuwara during the era of the Kings of
Lanka.
On that fateful day, when the British had unfurled their Union Jack,
Patriot Prelate the Ven. Variyapola Sumangala brought down the flag of
the imperialists and tried to hoist the Lion Flag in its place.
For this brave, fearless and patriotic deed, the Ven. Sumangala was
tried for treason.
After taking over the administration of the country on a convention,
the British took King Sri Wickrama Rajasinha's Royal Standard to England
and kept in the Royal Military Hospital Chelsea in London.
In bringing back Lanka's glorious Lion Flag, Mr. E. W. Perera, a
member of the Legislative Council and later the State Council left no
stone unturned until the British authorities returned to Sri Lanka what
was her rightful and legitimate possession.
The Lion Flag came back to Sri Lanka to play an important part of the
re-dawn of freedom on February 4, 1948.
Almost all communities voiced their acclamation that the Lion Flag
should continue to be the national flag of free Sri Lanka.
The undisputable message of the Lion Flag was that it represented
justice and fair play, harmony and unity and bravery and heroism-peace
and prosperity to every living being not only human beings.
Arisen Ahubudu, one of Sri Lanka's eminent litterateurs, a historian,
grammarian, poet and writer describes the flag as the symbol of heroism.
"The Lion with the sword raised in its right hand denotes the onward
march of the people without any fear for the enemies of the nation. The
colour yellow denotes righteousness and peaceful way of life.
The red in the background of the heraldic lion with the sword denotes
the defeating of the evil forces of oppression. The nation and the
people guided by the message of the flag will never resort to provoke
others.
The four Bo-leaves on the four corners indicate exactly the truism of
non-aggression. The people of the Lion Flag never regress from their
onward march until victory is achieved.
What a glorious heritage the Sri Lankan people had inherited over the
last two and half millennia.
Studying all these historic facts Mudaliyar A. L. Sinnalebbe Member
of Parliament for Madakalapuva in the Eastern Province (erroneously
called Batticaloa aping the Portuguese) moved in Parliament in January
1948, the following motion.
"That this House is of the opinion that the Royal Standard of King
Sri Wickrama Rajasinha depicting a yellow lion passant holding a sword
in its right paw on a red background which was removed to England after
the convention of 1815 should once again be adopted as the official flag
of free Lanka."
So was another Muslim leader, Dr. M. C. M. Kaleel, the President of
the All-Ceylon Muslim League expressed in no uncertain terms that the
Muslims would be happy to retain the Lion Flag as the flag of
independent Lanka.
After two years of deliberations the Lion Flag was accepted as the
National Flag of Sri Lanka by the special 'National Flag Committee'
appointed by Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake on March 6, 1948.
The Committee had S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike as the Leader of the House
as Chairman. The other members were Sir John Kotelawala, T. B. Jayah,
Dr. L. A. (later Sir Lalita) Rajapakse, G. G. Ponnambalam and Senator S.
Nadesan.
The report was signed by all six members with Senator Nadesan
submitting a dissent note.
However, the Committee had accepted the Lion Flag with a modification
of adding two vertical stripes of saffron and green for the minority
communities.
This flag was thereafter hoisted by the people. Yet, its gradual
popularity was quite slow until the advent of President Ranasinghe
Premadasa who caused entrepreneurs to produce the Lion Flag in cloth,
paper and plastic as well.
From that time onwards, from the first week of January the Lion Flag
became the largest selling article in shops and boutiques.
People of all walks of life, from the humble hut dweller to the
palatial Colombo seven mansion, the Lion Flag fluttered from their roof
tops.
The three-wheeler to the luxury limousine had the Lion Flag flown
during the Independence week.
All schools public and private held flag ceremonies on February 3
since the Independence Day was a national holiday.
Once again, all people everywhere are prepared to enjoy the unity and
harmony as one nation and one Sri Lankan community under the banner of
the Lion Flag which gives the message of peace and harmony.
Gold: represents intelligence, peace, non-violence and truth.
Crimson: represents immortality.
Four Bo-leaves: loving kindness, compassion enjoying the joy
of other's happiness and equanimity.
The Lion: signifies heroism, strength, and discipline of the
nation, Head-ruler (shape of a crown); Eye - watches the rulers
performance, Tongue: the rulers statements should be honest and
truthful, Head and Tail: equality between ruler and the citizens,
Hairy-heaps: denote strength. The Sword: is an indication that the
country should be ruled righteously meting out justice to all.
(The writer was an Associate Editor of the Daily
News. He specialised in Buddhist and Cultural Affairs and wrote
extensively on these subjects to the Daily News and Buddhist
publications. He also held office in several international Buddhist
organisations.) |