At the time, he was Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Chairman of the National Emblem and Flag Design Committee.

Sun and Moon, and Lion depicting Buddha is given less prominence than cart wheel of English Buddhism, so it is in great discordance with National Scriptures.

It show the geography of the island with mountains and palm trees, with an elephant and cinnamon bales, and two small shields.

[15] Before independence, Ceylon used the coat of arms of the United Kingdom as the imperial emblem and a unique shield for the colony.

The crown symbolised Queen Elizabeth II as head of state of Ceylon, and it disappeared from the country's arms after change of status to a republic.

[16] At the time, he was Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Chairman of the National Emblem and Flag Design Committee.

The designer of the emblem was Venerable Mapalagama Wipulasara Maha Thera[17][18] and Art Work by S.M Seneviratne.