Flags represent a profound form of artistic expression rooted in identity, power, and devotion that spans human civilization. Sri Lanka's Sinhalese culture boasts a particularly rich flag tradition dating back over twenty-five centuries, preserved through literary records and archaeological discoveries including precious metal models from the 2nd century BC onwards. This work documents more than three hundred original flags, many originating from the Kandyan period, revealing how this ancient practice became woven into the fabric of Sri Lankan life and heritage.
