Today marks the 125th anniversary of the Buddhist Flag in the country 28-4-2010

Today marks the 125th anniversary of the Buddhist Flag in the country.

The inaugural ceremony of then Buddhist Flag designed and introduced by Sri Lanka was held on April 28 1885 on a Vesak Full Moon Day on Adhi Vesak Day. The Flag was originally designed in 1885 by the Colombo Committee.

This flag was published in the Sarasavi Sandaresa newspaper of 17 April 1885 and was first hoisted in public on Vesak day, 28 May 1885 at the Dipaduttamarama, Kotahena, by Ven. Migettuwatte Gunananda thera. This was the first Vesak public holiday under British rule.
Colone Henry Steel Olcott, an American journalist, founder and first president of the Theosophical Society, felt that its long streaming shape made it inconvenient for general use. He therefore suggested modifying it so that it was the size and shape of national flags. Modifications were made accordingly, which were adopted. The modified flag was published in the Sarasavi Sandaresa of 8 April 1886 and first hoisted on Vesak day 1886.

In 1889 the modified flag was introduced to Japan by Anagarika Dharmapala and Olcott who presented it to the Emperor and subsequently to Burma.

At the inaugural conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists on 25 May 1950, its founder President Professor G.P.Malasekera proposed that this flag be adopted as the flag of Buddhists throughout the world; this motion was unanimously passed.

The five colours of the flag represent the six colours of the aura that emanated from the body of the Buddha when he attained Enlightenment.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• sri
• lanka
• latest
• news
• the
• 125th
• anniversary
• of
• Buddhist
• Flag
• in
• country

[BestPiperonMars]

Great post!  would love an English translation.. :-)