National Flag of Sri Lanka
According to aceinland, the national flag of Sri Lanka is a rectangular flag consisting of two vertical stripes, one saffron and the other green in color. The saffron stripe is wider than the green one, with a yellow lion in the center holding a kastane sword. The lion is facing towards the hoist side, with its right paw on top of an upright sword. Below it are four Bo leaves arranged in a cruciform manner. All four corners of the flag contain gold-colored pinnacles.
The saffron color represents courage and sacrifice while the green stripe symbolizes fertility and prosperity. The yellow lion is believed to represent Sinhalese people who make up most of Sri Lanka’s population while the kastane sword stands for authority and command wielded by them throughout history. The four Bo leaves signify Buddhism, which has been an integral part of Sri Lankan culture for centuries. Finally, the gold-colored pinnacles signify Buddhist temples which are found all over Sri Lanka and are considered sacred sites by many locals. This flag has been used since independence was declared in 1948 and it remains an important symbol of national pride for Sri Lankans today.
Presidents of Sri Lanka
The President of Sri Lanka is the head of state and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The current president is Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was elected in 2019. He is a member of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). As head of state, the president is responsible for upholding the constitution and ensuring that all laws are implemented properly. The president also plays an important role in setting policy for the country and representing it on the international stage.
The President has a five-year term with no limit on how many terms he or she can serve. The President is elected directly by popular vote and must receive more than 50 percent of all votes cast in order to be elected. After being elected, they are sworn in at a ceremony held at Independence Square in Colombo.
Previous presidents have included Mahinda Rajapaksa (2005-2015), Chandrika Kumaratunga (1994-2005), Ranasinghe Premadasa (1989-1993), J.R Jayawardene (1978-1989) and William Gopallawa (1972-1978). All previous presidents have been members of either the United National Party or its predecessor, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.
The President’s duties include appointing members to their cabinet, making judicial appointments, granting pardons, promulgating laws and dissolving parliament when necessary. They also represent Sri Lanka at international events such as summits and conferences. In addition to these duties, they can also declare war or sign peace treaties if necessary.
Prime Ministers of Sri Lanka
The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka is the head of government and is responsible for all executive functions. The current Prime Minister is Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was appointed in 2019. He is a member of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). As head of government, the Prime Minister is responsible for ensuring that the country’s laws are implemented properly and that ministerial departments are run efficiently. The Prime Minister also has an important role in setting policy for the country and representing it on the international stage.
The Prime Minister serves at the pleasure of the President and can be removed from office by him or her at any time. The Prime Minister must have a majority in parliament in order to be appointed and remain in office. After being appointed, they are sworn in at a ceremony held at Independence Square in Colombo.
Previous prime ministers have included Ranil Wickremesinghe (2015-2019), D.M Jayaratne (2010-2015), Ratnasiri Wickremanayake (2005-2010), Ranil Wickremesinghe (2001-2004) and Chandrika Kumaratunga (1994-2001). All previous prime ministers have been members of either the United National Party or its predecessor, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.
The Prime Minister’s duties include chairing cabinet meetings, proposing legislation to parliament, appointing members to their cabinet, making judicial appointments, granting pardons, issuing executive orders and promulgating laws when necessary. They also represent Sri Lanka at international events such as summits and conferences. In addition to these duties, they can also declare war or sign peace treaties if necessary.
