A Point of view:

Why not, a less complicated national flag?

by Rikaza Hassan

Ask people what they think of the flag of our motherland and most of them will give you a very confused: what? It's almost akin to asking if they'd seen the little green man across the road?

To most people like Ashan, a 23-year old student, "it means nothing. I mean it's a flag. It could have things like damsels drawn on it, or it could be just a blotch of paint, I don't think anyone really cares. I don't. It's basically something you hoist up a pole during events at school, and then, the only other time you'll probably even own one is when you go for an international cricket match and Sri Lanka is playing."

Lathika, a part-time employee and part-time student agrees. "I remember I used to hate our flag as a child when I was forced to draw it for social studies at school. The lion was extremely difficult; came out like a dog most of the time," she chuckles. "But other than that I really don't see how it has affected me at all."

Of the conflicting opinion is Mr. Abeyratne. "The Sri Lankan flag is special, in that it represents the three communities, the major religion - Buddhism and the lion signifies the bravery of the Sinhalese race who fought, bled and died to get us independence. It is a fair and equal flag that is very symbolic." With a wistful look in his eyes, further remarks Mr. Abeyratne, "I think it is a very beautiful flag."

The right section of the current flag with finials derived from the spire on top of a Buddhist Temple instead of bo leaves was known as the Lion Flag of King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe and has been there for centuries. But questions Mrs. Dias, "Why should our national coat of arms, so to put it, be an animal that is not to be found in our country?

I've seen discussions on television where people have tried to say that lions once did exist in this country, but even if that is true, they have not been in existence for centuries. Why a lion? Why not a leopard, a peacock, an endemic bird, perhaps?" She further opines, "personally I don't like having a sword on our flag. It's almost like sanctioning violence."

It was the lion flag that fluttered during the celebrations on February 4, 1948 as on the opening of the first parliament on February 11, 1948 by Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake. But soon it became unpopular among the minority communities, and in 1951 a green and orange boleaf had been added on the hoist side to represent the Muslim and Tamil communities respectively.

Finally, on May 22, 1972, the finials were changed to the four bo leaves that we see on the flag today. Saman*, a pacifist believes our flag to be just "perfect" for Sri Lanka. "The flag is complicated in nature and has never been able to satisfy all Sri Lankans.

I think with its tumultuous history and many changes, and of course, the clear lack of respect that the average Sri Lankan showcases when it comes to the flag, it is the perfect flag for a country of complicated affairs and in dire a situation as ours."

But perhaps the best issue is that pointed out by the still schooling Gaya who counts geography as her favourite subject. "Our flag represents three groups of people and a religion. (There is more than one religion practised in this country and there is more than three races.)

If our flag is anything to go by, our country is always going to be full of divided groups. If you take a look at the flag of the Bahamas, it comprises of three stripes: the middle stripe is yellow representing the sandy beaches of the 700 Bahamas islands, while the top and bottom in aqua blue represent the oceans that surround it.

The black triangle originating from the left and facing the right stands for the unity of the Bahamian nation and its people's determination to develop both the land and sea." Asks Gaya, "Why can't we have something as simple and meaningful and whole as that?."