NATIONAL ANTHEM
Namo Namo Matha,

Sri Lanka Matha , apa Sri Lanka ,
Namo Namo Namo Namo Matha,
Sundara siri barini ,
Surndi athi Sobamana Lanka ,
Dhanya dhanaya neka mal pala thuru piri , jaya bhoomiya ramya .
Apa hata sapa siri setha sadana , jee vanaye Matha !
Piliganu mana apa bhakti pooja ,
Namo Namo Matha,
Apa Sri Lanka ,
Namo Namo Namo Namo Matha,
Apa Sri Lanka ,Namo Namo Namo Namo Matha,
Obave apa vidya obamaya apa sathya obave apa shakthi
Apa hada thula bhakti oba apa aloke
Apage anuprane oba apa jeevana ve
Apa muktiya obave
Nava jeevana demine nithina apa
Pubudu karan matha
Gnana veerya vadavamina ragena yanu
Mana jaya bhoomi kara
Eka mavekuge daru kala bavina
Yamu yamu wee nopama
Prema vadamu sama bheda durara da Namo Namo Matha
                                               By Ananda Samarakoon

NATIONAL FLAG

The National Flag of Sri Lanka has been designed with great care and purpose. The significance of each symbols of the National Flag is as follows .

The lion in the flag represents the Sinhala race. The sword of the lion represents the sovereignty of the county . The noble eight-fold path of Buddhism is signified by the lion’s tail . Curly hair on the lion’s head indicates wisdom and meditation . The beard denotes purity of words .The handle of the sword highlights the elements of water , fire , air and earth . The nose indicates intelligence . The two front paws purport to purity in handling wealth . The vertical strips of orange represents minority Tamil race and green the minority Muslim race .
The National Flag was hoisted for the first time on March 3 , 1950 .

NATIONAL EMBLEM

Sri Lanka used the British emblem when it was a British Crown Colony . We continued to use it even after gaining independence in 1948 . According to the recommendation of a select committee appointed to devise a state emblem more suitable for Sri Lanka (Ceylon) we opted for a new emblem . It had lion with a ‘Palapethi’ design atop . Below there was a strip carrying the country’s name in Sinhala ,Tamil and English . A new republican emblem was chosen after the country was declared a Republic on May 22nd ,1972 . In addition to the lion with sword and the ‘Palapethi ‘design it portrays the punkalasa , dhamachakka , sun , moon and two sheaves of paddy .

NATIONAL BIRD

Jungle fowl the National Bird of Sri Lanka is commonest in the National Parks and forests .

NATIONAL TREE

A proposal made to declare the Na Tree as the National Tree was adopted by the Cabinet on February 26th ,1986 , Socially and culturally we have been closely associated with the Na Tree for centuries. It was chosen as the National Tree for 7 reasons .
(1) It is a tree which originated in Sri Lanka ;
(2) Its utility
(3) Historical and Cultural importance;
(4) Exteror posture;
(5) Wide distribution;
(6) Color and Nature;
(7) Ability to draw and sketch it easy ;

NATIONAL FLOWER

This , the “ Nil Mahanel ” botanical name “Nympheae Stelleta” has been the national flower of Sri Lanka from 1986.The Nil Mahanel plant grows in shallow , warm water , and is found in all parts of the country .