News
Our badly battered National flag
View(s):On Independence Day each year, many Sri Lankans opt to fly the national flag from their homes, business establishments and even vehicles to show their pride at being Sri Lankans.
Story and Pix by M.D.Nissanka & Priyantha Wikramaarachchi
Yet, what happens after February 4? Many national flags continue to remain up, mostly because those who put them up have either forgotten to take them down or because they just don’t bother to do so. The end result is that the national flag is subjected to all manner of indignities.
Nearly three weeks later, instead of fluttering proudly in the breeze, most national flags we see now have become hopelessly entangled on rooftops or vehicles. They have been subjected to the elements, making them discoloured and dusty. Some flags have even fallen off their flagpoles.
Each year, the Ministry of Public Administration makes an appeal to the public on behalf of the Government to hoist national flags on Independence Day. Why does it stop there? Shouldn’t it be following up afterwards with an announcement asking the public to take the flags down so that it’s not disrespected in this manner?
Even the flag pole on which the flag was hoisted has broken
Forgotten among used spare parts
No longer flying proudly -a dust-covered flag at a wayside boutique
Independence day has come and gone, but the flag put up with pride lies dusty and dirty
Fly the flag with pride or not at all
This much travelled flag, now lies faded and wind blow and entangled