Green, Yellow and Orange Flags: The Rarest Color Combination?

Sri Lanka is the only country that has a flag with a combination of green, yellow, and orange.

The Sri Lankan flag has a history and deep meaning behind it as well. Moreover, there’s another organization with that color mix.

Today, we’ll explore the meaning behind Sri Lanka’s flag as well as similar flags.

Green, Yellow, and Orange Flags

Flags are a country’s most recognizable symbol, and they’re frequently used to convey patriotism. That’s why it’s not uncommon to see bright colors like green, yellow, and orange on flags. They stand out from the crowd.

Sri Lanka’s Flag

The Sri Lankan flag is one of the most recognizable flags in the world. It’s a simple design that depicts a golden lion on a red background, with four yellow stripes in the corners. Plus, a green and orange stripes to the left of the lion.

It all started back in 486 BC when the first king of Sri Lanka brought with him from India a flag with a symbol of a lion on it.

The flag with the lion was then used by monarchs, who then spread its popularity. It soon became a symbol of freedom and hope for the people of Sri Lanka.

Later, when their king Dutugemunu went on a campaign to defeat invaders from another country, he carried a banner that showed a lion carrying a sword. The flag with the lion symbol was used by the country for years afterward.

When the country was under British rule, sadly, the original design was displaced and replaced with the Union flag.

For a long time, the people had forgotten all about their national flag and its original design, which reflected their dreams and hopes.

In the middle of the 20th century, the independence movement in Sri Lanka gained power and managed to unveil the original flag.

The lion flag of Sri Lanka was adopted in 1951, after being modified to include vertical bands of green and orange to represent the Muslim and Tamil communities.

The flag has been modified over time to include the Bo leaf in each corner, which represents Buddhism and its influence.

They eventually ended up with a beautiful flag that symbolizes their culture’s unity.

Related Article: 6 Countries with Blue, Yellow, and Red in Their Flags

Similar Color Combinations

The colors green, yellow, and orange are rarely seen together in national flags. However, many countries have chosen similar color schemes. Let’s take a look at some of them!

Mozambique

Mozambique is a country on the southeastern coast of Africa. It’s known for its beautiful beaches, wildlife, and biodiversity.

Mozambique’s flag is a horizontal tricolor of green, white, and black with white fimbriations. On one of the corners, there is a red triangle with a hoe and an assault rifle crossing together within it, as well as a book behind them.

The flag of Mozambique was adopted in 1983 and is very similar to the flag used by FRELIMO, a political party that strives for independence and well-being. Each of the flag’s elements has a symbolic meaning.

The green stands for the fertility of the land and hope for prosperity; the white represents peace and friendship, while the black means determination and represents the African continent.

The yellow in the flag symbolizes the country’s mineral wealth, while red represents its struggle for independence and fight against colonialism.

The rifle is a symbol of the country’s vigilance while the hoe represents its agricultural prowess. The open book symbolizes education’s importance, and the star represents nationalism.

These elements come together beautifully in one flag.

Related Article: 8 Red and Yellow Flags from Around the World

Ghana Flag

Ghana’s history is very rich and diverse. It’s been influenced by many cultures, including the Portuguese and the British. Ghana’s culture is characterized by a great sense of pride, and it’s even evident in the country’s flag.

In 1957, Theodosia Salome Okoh designed a new flag for her own country. She replaced the flag of the United Kingdom that had been used as Ghana’s flag when it was a British colony.

The Ghanaian flag consists of a black star in the middle with three horizontal stripes: red on top, gold in the middle, and green on the bottom.

The red stripe symbolizes the blood that was shed during the fight for independence; the gold represents the mineral wealth of Ghana, and the green is a symbol of their lush forests.

The star in the center of the flag represents African freedom.

Just like Mozambique’s flag, Ghana’s flag has colors that represent its struggles for freedom and independence.

Wrap Up

So, what countries have green, yellow, and orange on their flags? Basically, there is only one: Sri Lanka. Their flag has a lot of meaning for the country. It’s a symbol of unity among all their cultures and religions.

Additionally, there’s also a group that has those three colors and that’s the Organization of American States. Now that you’ve learned all about the colors in flags and what they mean, it’s time to put that knowledge to work and impress your peers!