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| Gaveshaka
continues the series on significant happenings Following agitation by the Buddhist Defense Committee which was formed to get back the rights and privileges lost during foreign rule, Lord Derby, the British Secretary of State for the Colonies agreed to consult the Governor in Colombo on the demands made by the Committee. Colonel Olcott, a prominent member of the Committee left for London in February 1884 to represent matters to Lord Derby. The Buddhist Defense Committee had been set up in January 1884 and it consisted of A. P. Dharma Gunawardena (President), Don Carolis Hewavitharana (Vice President), H. A. Fernando (Treasurer) and Carolis Pujitha Gunawardena ( Secretary). Colonel Olcott was co-opted as an honorary member. The Committee scored a major victory when the British Government decided to declare Vesak Poya day as a Public Holiday on March 27, 1885. The Buddhists lost the Poya holiday in November 1770 during the time of the Dutch rule. The Vesak Poya in the year 1885 fell on March 28 and the Committee decided to celebrate the historic event on a grand scale. It was decided to design a Buddhist flag which could be displayed throughout the country as a symbol of unity among the Buddhists. The idea really came from the Committee which was appointed to organize the Vesak celebrations in Colombo. Although the concept and design of the Buddhist flag has been attributed to Colonel Olcott, he himself has clearly stated in his Diary that "our Colombo colleagues had the happy thought of devising a flag which could be adopted by all Buddhist nations as the universal symbol of their faith thus serving the same purpose as the cross does, for the Christians", He called it "a splendid idea" and added, "I saw in a moment its far reaching potentialities as an agent in that scheme of Buddhist unity." While the Committee members submitted designs for a flag, it was the design submitted by Carolis Pujitha ( C. P.) Gunawardena that was accepted. It was based on the concept of 'budu res' - the colours of the rays said to have emanated from the Buddha's body. The colours were 'nila' (blue), 'pita' (golden yellow), 'lohita' (crimson). 'odata' (white), 'manjesta' (scarlet) and 'prabashvara' (mix of the five colours). At the time the design of the flag was accepted, Colonel Olcott was away in India and no sooner he returned in January 1886, he was impressed but felt a change in the shape was necessary. While the original flag was in the shape of a ship's long streaming pennant, Colonel Olcott felt it was not suitable for carrying in processions or fixing on homes. He suggested a rectangular shape which was accepted. To this day the Buddhist flag maintains that shape and has become the common symbol of Buddhists all over the world. The ceremonial hoisting of the Buddhist flag took place at the Deepaduttarama Vihara, Kotahena by Venerable Mohottiwatte Gunanada Thera, the renowned monk who played a prominent role in the Buddhist revivalist movement. Ceremonies were also held at several other places including Vidyodaya Pirivena at Maligakanda, Kelaniya Vihara, Gangaramaya at Hunupitiya, Buddhist Theosophical Society Headquarters and other leading temples. Birth
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