The photographer had been detained until the flags were removed, and was warned by the men, said to be of police, not to publish the pictures taken.

This ‘Sinhale flag’ does not have the orange and green strips of the national flag, required as per the constitution, to represent Tamil and Muslim communities and to depict national unity.

It had been used by Rajapaksa supporters for several protests recently.

The flag was first raised by Swarna Hansa Padanama on March 02 at the Mangul Maduwa at Sri Daladama Maligawa.

Also, it was on display at a demonstration in front of the bribery commission after it had summoned former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

Meanwhile, Bodu Bala Sena, which is contesting the parliamentary election as the Bodu Jana Peramuna, says it will take measures to legalise the country’s name as Sinhale and the flag used before 1815 and in 1948 as the national flag.

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