Page 205 - (DK) Complete Flags of the World

Asia

Maldives

Ratio: 2:3 Adopted: July 26, 1965 Usage: National and Civil

The panel of Islamic Red was the
green symbolizes original color of the
peace and prosperity Maldives flag

The crescent
represents Islam

Asia
)NDIA The archipelago of small islands that forms the
-!,$)6%3 Maldives was once a British Protectorate. The
3RI ,ANKA
Maldives became fully independent in 1965.
Until the beginning of the 20th added along the hoist. This was
century the flag of the Maldives was dropped after independence from
plain red, reflecting the culture of Britain in 1965. A modern
the Arab traders from the Persian interpretation of the colors suggests
Gulf who operated among the that red symbolizes the blood shed
islands. This flag remained in use in the struggle for independence,
after the British Protectorate was set while green stands for peace
up in 1887. The flag later acquired a and progress.
white crescent facing the hoist—
another sign of Islamic influence. THE NATIONAL ARMS
The coat of arms of the Maldives
A NEW DESIGN contains the Islamic crescent and
The flag was redesigned in 1948 after star emblem beneath a date palm.
the independence of Ceylon (now Sri Below the crescent is a scroll with
Lanka) of which the islands had been the inscription, in Dihevi, “State of
a dependency. The crescent was a Thousand Islands,” which recalls
turned around and placed on an the many islands—over 2000—that
Islamic green panel. A pattern of make up the Maldives. The crescent
black and white diagonal stripes was is flanked by two national flags.

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