The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1990 to 2025 Asia
Flag Sri Lanka, in 36 editions.
The entry for Sri Lanka published Flag in 36 editions of 36, from 1990 to 2025. The text changed in 11 editions. Each is shown as published. Flag in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 11
- the first edition with it
- 1990
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Flag” (1990 to 2025) and “Flag description” (1997 to 2024).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
2025 edition
Changed since 2024The same text in 1990 and 1991.
- yellow with two panels;
- the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange;
- the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner;
- the yellow field appears as a border that goes around the entire flag and extends between the two panels
yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border that goes around the entire flag and extends between the two panels
The same text in 1992 and 1993.
- yellow with two panels;
- the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange;
- the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner;
- the yellow field appears as a border that goes around the entire flag and extends between the two panels
yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical
bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel is a large dark red
rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf
in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border that goes around the
entire flag and extends between the two panels
- yellow with two panels;
- the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange;
- the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner;
- the yellow field appears as a border that goes around the entire flag and extends between the two panels
yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical
vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel is a
large dark redrectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there
is a yellow bo leafin each corner; the yellow field appears as a
border that goes around theentire flag and extends between the two
panels
- yellow with two panels;
- the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange;
- the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner;
- the yellow field appears as a border that goes around the entire flag and extends between the two panels
yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal
equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel
is alarge dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there
there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a
a border that goes around the entire flag and extends between the two
panels
- yellow with two panels;
- the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange;
- the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner;
- the yellow field appears as a border that goes around the entire flag and extends between the two panels
yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two
equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel
panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a
sword, andthere is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow
field appears asa border that goes around the entire flag and
extends between the twopanels
The same text in 1997 and 1998.
Published as “Flag description”
- yellow with two panels;
- the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange;
- the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner;
- the yellow field appears as a border that goes around the entire flag and extends between the two panels
yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel
has twoequal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other
other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a
sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellowfield
appears as a border that goes around the entire flag andextends
between the two panels
Published as “Flag description”
- yellow with two panels;
- the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange;
- the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner;
- the yellow field appears as a border that goes around the entire flag and extends between the two panels
yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel
panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the
the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion
holding asword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the
yellow fieldappears as a border that goes around the entire flag
and extendsbetween the two panels
The same text in 2000 and 2001.
Published as “Flag description”
- yellow with two panels;
- the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange;
- the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner;
- the yellow field appears as a border that goes around the entire flag and extends between the two panels
yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-sidepanel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange;the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lionholding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; theyellow field appears as a border that goes around the entire flagand extends between the two panels
The same text in 8 editions, 2002 to 2009.
Published as “Flag description”
- yellow with two panels;
- the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange;
- the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner;
- the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panels
yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border that goes around the entire flag and extends between the two panels
The same text in 5 editions, 2010 to 2014.
Published as “Flag description”
- yellow with two panels;
- the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange;
- the other larger panel depicts a yellow lion holding a sword on a dark red rectangular field that also displays a yellow bo leaf in each corner;
- the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panels;
- the lion represents Sinhalese ethnicity, the strength of the nation, and bravery;
- the sword demonstrates the sovereignty of the nation;
- the four bo leaves - symbolizing Buddhism and its influence on the country - stand for the four virtues of kindness, friendliness, happiness, and equanimity;
- orange signifies Sri Lankan Tamils, green the Sri Lankan Moors;
- dark red represents the European Burghers, but also refers to the rich colonial background of the country;
- yellow denotes other ethnic groups;
- also referred to as the Lion Flag
Rewritten: too little of the 2009 text remains to mark the changes.
yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other larger panel depicts a yellow lion holding a sword on a dark red rectangular field that also displays a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panels; the lion represents Sinhalese ethnicity, the strength of the nation, and bravery; the sword demonstrates the sovereignty of the nation; the four bo leaves - symbolizing Buddhism and its influence on the country - stand for the four virtues of kindness, friendliness, happiness, and equanimity; orange signifies Sri Lankan Tamils, green the Sri Lankan Moors; dark red represents the European Burghers, but also refers to the rich colonial background of the country; yellow denotes other ethnic groups; also referred to as the Lion Flag
The same text in 10 editions, 2015 to 2024.
Published as “Flag description”
- yellow with two panels;
- the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange;
- the other larger panel depicts a yellow lion holding a sword on a maroon rectangular field that also displays a yellow bo leaf in each corner;
- the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panels;
- the lion represents Sinhalese ethnicity, the strength of the nation, and bravery;
- the sword demonstrates the sovereignty of the nation;
- the four bo leaves - symbolizing Buddhism and its influence on the country - stand for the four virtues of kindness, friendliness, happiness, and equanimity;
- orange signifies Sri Lankan Tamils, green Sri Lankan Moors, and maroon the Sinhalese majority;
- yellow denotes other ethnic groups;
- also referred to as the Lion Flag
yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other larger panel depicts a yellow lion holding a sword on a dark red maroon rectangular field that also displays a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panels; the lion represents Sinhalese ethnicity, the strength of the nation, and bravery; the sword demonstrates the sovereignty of the nation; the four bo leaves - symbolizing Buddhism and its influence on the country - stand for the four virtues of kindness, friendliness, happiness, and equanimity; orange signifies Sri Lankan Tamils, green the Sri Lankan Moors; dark red represents the European Burghers, but also refers to the rich colonial background of Moors, and maroon the country; Sinhalese majority; yellow denotes other ethnic groups; also referred to as the Lion Flag
- description:
- yellow with two panels;
- the smaller panel on the left has two equal vertical bands of green (left side) and orange;
- the larger panel has a yellow lion holding a sword on a maroon field, with a yellow bo leaf in each corner
- meaning:
- the sword stands for national sovereignty;
- the lion for Sinhalese ethnicity, the strength of the nation, and bravery;
- the four bo leaves for Buddhism and the four virtues of kindness, friendliness, happiness, and equanimity;
- orange stands for Tamils, green for Moors, and maroon for the Sinhalese majority;
- yellow represents other ethnic groups
note: the banner is sometimes referred to as the Lion Flag
description: yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel on the left has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist (left side) and orange; the other larger panel depicts has a yellow lion holding a sword on a maroon rectangular field that also displays field, with a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between corner
meaning: the two panels; sword stands for national sovereignty; the lion represents for Sinhalese ethnicity, the strength of the nation, and bravery; the sword demonstrates the sovereignty of the nation; the four bo leaves - symbolizing for Buddhism and its influence on the country - stand for the four virtues of kindness, friendliness, happiness, and equanimity; orange signifies Sri Lankan stands for Tamils, green Sri Lankan for Moors, and maroon for the Sinhalese majority; yellow denotes represents other ethnic groups; also groups
note: the banner is sometimes referred to as the Lion Flag
No edition has those words. Try a shorter word.
Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “Sri Lanka: Flag.” The World Factbook, 1990–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/sri-lanka/flag.