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Maldives: From protectorate to independence (1949-1968)

Last modified: 2007-06-23 by ivan sache
Keywords: crescent (white) | star (white) | sultan | harbour master | crescent (green) |
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National flag until 1968

Flag of the Maldives, 1953-1968 - Image by Željko Heimer, 30 May 2002


See also:


National flag

Quoting Crampton [cra90]:

Upon the independence of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1949, the Maldives were a separate administrative entity. A Republic was established from 1953 until 1954. At that time, the Maldives had a reorganization of their flag structure. Primarily, the crescent was turned to face the fly and the service flag became the national flag. In 1954, the Sultan was reinstated and there were no changes to Maldivian flags. These flags continued to be used through independence in 1965.
Three years after independence, the Sultanate was removed and a republic was instated again. The current national and presidential flags were introduced officially on 26 July 1968.

Calvin Paige Herring, 7 June 1998


Sultan's flag

Sultan's flag until 1968

Standard of the Sultan of the Maldives, 1954-1968 - Image by Calvin Paige Herring, 6 July 2000


Harbour Master's ensign

Harbour Master's ensign, 1950s

Harbour Master's ensign of the Maldives, 1950 - Image by Clay Moss, 5 October 2006

The Harbour Master's ensign is shown on an old black and white photography from a National Geographic magazine from some time in the 1950s.

Clay Moss, 5 October 2006