List of Sri Lankan flags

This is a list of flags used in Sri Lanka.

National flag

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	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.

Presidential flag

This flag is personal to every President of Sri Lanka as such the design changes when a new president assumes office.

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	May 22, 1972 – February 4, 1978	Presidential flag of William Gopallawa
	February 4, 1978 - January 2, 1989	Presidential flag of J. R. Jayewardene
	January 2, 1989 – May 1, 1993	Presidential flag of Ranasinghe Premadasa
	May 1, 1993 - November 12, 1994	Presidential flag of D. B. Wijetunga
	November 12, 1994 - November 19, 2005	Presidential flag of Chandrika Kumaratunga	Yellow flag with red-white-red unequal border and four white pipul leaves, one in each corner. In the middle there is a red white and yellow rosette.
	November 19, 2005 - January 8, 2015	Presidential flag of Mahinda Rajapaksa	The flag has a maroon or burgundy field, a yellow ornamental border, the 4 inward-pointing yellow leaves which are also on the main portion of the national flag, and a yellow lotus in the centre.
	January 9, 2015 - November 18, 2019	Presidential flag of Maithripala Sirisena	The flag has a maroon, a yellow ornamental border, the 4 inward-pointing yellow leaves and a lotus in the centre.
	November 18, 2019 – Present	Presidential flag of Gotabaya Rajapaksa

Civil ensigns

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1972 - Present	Civil Ensign of Sri Lanka	A red ensign with the Flag of Sri Lanka in the canton influenced by the British design.
	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
	1972 -	President's Colour	A defaced national flag of Sri Lanka with Coat of arms of Sri Lanka.
	1972 -	Flag of the Sri Lanka Army	The army flag defaced with the insignia of the Sri Lanka Army.
	1972 -	Naval Ensign of Sri Lanka	A defaced white ensign with the flag of Sri Lanka in the canton influenced by the British design.
	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.
	1971 - 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.
	2010 -	Air Force Colours of Sri Lanka	Sri Lanka Air Force ensign with the four vertical stripes of saffron, green, maroon, yellow in the centre, and superimposed by Sri Lanka national emblem.
	1971 - 2010	Air Force Colours of Sri Lanka	Sri Lanka Air Force ensign with the four vertical stripes of saffron, green, maroon, yellow in the centre, and superimposed by Sri Lanka national emblem.

Government flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1972 -	Flag of the Sri Lanka Police
	2010 -	Flag of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard

Provincial flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	November 14, 1987 -	Flag of Central Province	The flag is designed to represents the Central Province and its three districts Kandy, Matale and Nuwaraeliya. The Golden colour Lion that carries a sword and the four Bo leaves at the four corners in the maroon colour background represents the Kandy District. The white lay out represents Matale District and Nuwaraeiya District that represents the Upcountry is symbolised by the white lotus. The Sun and Moon are for Eternity.
	January 1, 2007 -	Flag of Eastern Province
	November 14, 1987 -	Flag of North Central Province
	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
	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
	November 14, 1987 -	Flag of North Western Province
	November 14, 1987 -	Flag of Sabaragamuwa Province
	November 14, 1987 -	Flag of Southern Province	A picture of a lion flag can be seen in frescos in historical Dambulla cave temple. This historical flag made of carving a picture of running lion with a small sword in its forepaw is considered to be the Ruhuna flag. Furthermore, King Dutugamunu left Magam Kingdom with the lion flag ahead for the battle to unite the country. The flag is of a picture of a yellow lion on a red blood colour background. Accordingly, it was decided to use for the Southern Provincial flag the picture of the lion running with a small sword (iluk koolaya) in its fore paw of the Ruhuna flag and the red colour and yellow colour of the flag taken in the war front by King Dutugamunu. It was decided to use the same for the Southern Province flag mixture of colours and the standard to represent all communities in Galle, Matara, and Hambantota and four bo leaves (Metta, Karuna, Muditha, Upeksha) of the national flag. It was agreed that the forms of the sun and moon of the flag of Southern Province flag should be in the same forms of the sun and moon of the flag of Devinuwara Devalaya and that the same form of that of the flag of Hambantota District. Accordingly, it was expected to keep the integration of Galle, matara and Hambantota. Therefore, Southern Province flag can be considered as a combination of several traditional flags. The small sword (iluk Koolaya) is the symbol of control, but it doesn't reflect terror or suppression. Small sword represents Justice and fair. Running lion represents velocity fearlessness and pride. The sun and moon stands for stability prosperity and augustness. It expresses the traditional saying "Until the sun and moon exists". The sun and moon of the flag is considered to be symbols of victory. The combination of colours round the flag depict the existence of Southern Sri Lanka, victorious war history, religion and patriotism, mutual co-operation and harmony
	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. The flag that was gifted to Uva Province by the King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe who ruled the kingdom of Kandy during the period 1798-1815 can be seen even today at the National Museum ( Courtesy: Book entitled “Uva Ithihasaya” by Panditha Naulle Dhammananda Thero )
	November 14, 1987 -	Flag of Western Province

Historical flags

National flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1875–1948	Flag of Ceylon's Colonial Government	A defaced blue ensign with the Arms of the Ceylon Government.
	1948–1951	The first flag of the Dominion of Ceylon	The Royal Standard of the Kandyan Kingdom, the last kingdom of Sri Lanka.
	1951–1972	The second flag of the Dominion of Ceylon and then the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka	Modified flag of Kandyan Kingdom, the last kingdom of Sri Lanka.

Royal standards

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	c.1798 - 1815	Royal Standard of King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha

Viceregal flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1953–1972	Flag of the Governor-General of Ceylon	A lion standing atop a St Edward's Crown, over "Ceylon"
	1948–1953	Flag of the Governor-General of Ceylon	A lion standing atop a Tudor Crown, over "Ceylon"
	1875–1948	Flag of the Governor of Ceylon	A Union Flag defaced with Arms of the Ceylon Government.

Military flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1949–1966	First Flag of the Ceylon Army
	1966–1972	Second Flag of the Ceylon Army
	1950–1972	Ensign of the Royal Ceylon Navy
	1951–1972	Ensign of the Royal Ceylon Air Force