Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c11.s1.22

c11.s1.22

The lion is naturally a very common motif in Sinhalese art. It must be confessed it is often badly drawn. The position of the lion rampant may perhaps be due to European influence; this is almost certain when he carries a sword in the right paw, as in the case of one carved on the jaggery-mould referred to on p. 85, and the *ira-haṇḍa maha koḍiya*, illustrated by Bell (Kẹgalla Report, p. 126); these show clear evidence of Dutch influence, the latter exerted probably at Jaffna, where the flag may have been made. The common circulation of Dutch coins with lion rampant would explain such borrowings.