The Coat of arms of Sri Lanka features a gold lion passant, holding a sword in its right fore paw (the same lion from the flag of Sri Lanka) in the centre and was adopted in its current form in 1952.
Before gaining its independence, Sri Lanka (known then as Ceylon) used the coat of arms of the United Kingdom as the national emblem. When Sri Lanka gained its independence from the British in 1948, the need of a proper national emblem arose. A committee was named in order to fulfill the importance. According to its recommendation a national emblem was adopted in 1952[citation needed], which featured the same lion, over a banner, topped with a crown (symbolising that Sri Lanka was a commonwealth realm).
When Sri Lanka became a republic in 1972, the crown was removed and was replaced by the current coat of arms was introduced, featuring elements from socialist heraldry (such as the ears of corn and the cogwheel) as well as traditional symbols of Sri Lanka.
A committee to establish a new coat of arms was established. The committee consisted of: S.S. Kulathilake (Minister of Cultural affairs), Nissanka Wijerathne (Secretary of the ministry of Cultural affairs), Nandadeva Wijesekera, Senarath Paranavithana, M.R. Premarathne and Roland Silva. The coat of arms created by them and used since 1972 is their creation.
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