Who designed the Buddhist flag?
In
an article published under the topic of "Colonel-Olcott-the great
Buddhist revivalist" in the Sunday Observer of February 17 2002,
the writer had mentioned that Col.Olcott was the designer of the famous
Buddhist flag. This idea is utterly wrong according to the most authentic
historical sources. It is true that the need of a Buddhist flag was first
understood by Col.Olcott and Rev Mohottiwatte Gunananda thero in order
to hoist it on the Vesak full moon day of 28 April 1885, that the then
government declared the Vesak full moon day as a statutory holiday. It
was a victory of Col.Olcott as a leader of the Buddhist campaign to win
these Buddhist demands.A board was appointed to design a suitable Buddhist
flag. The members of this panel consisted of venerable Hikkaduve Sri Sumangala
(as the chief of the board) William de Abrew, Don Carolis Hewavitharana,
Peter de Abrew, Lansage Don Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardene, Charls A.
de Silva, N.S. Fernando, William Fernando, and Carolis Poojitha Goonawardene
(as the secretary of the board). Among these members Carolis Poojitha
Goonawardene designed and produced the Buddhist flag to the board and
was accepted. During this period Col.Olcott had gone abroad and he was
in India. He was invited to participate in this august ceremony. After
arriving in Sri Lanka. What he did was only to shorten the Buddhist flag
by both sides saying that the flag was too long in its size. That is the
historical truth. Why do we hesitate to give the devil his due ? Vide:
Lankawe Bauddha Punarudaya (1985) by K.D.K. Wimalarathne. Sasanika Jatika
Veerayo, (1987 p 28) by the most venerable Madihe Pannasiha Maha Nayaka
Thero. Vesak Niwaduwa ha Bauddha Kodiya (1985) by Gonahene Jotipala. Nawa
Maha Wamsaya hewath Sinhala Aryayo, (1990-p-116) by G.H. de Zoysa. Lamani
Mahima (1999-p-31) by D.V. Richard de Silva. Dayananda Paranamana Palatuwa.