Academic literature on the topic 'Rain-flag'

This chapter relates the first involvement of the American theosophists with the Buddhist revival in Sri Lanka and subsequent developments. The theosophists, having become aware of the Buddhist revival in Sri Lanka, had come there. Col Olcott and his co-theosophists were enthusiastically received and the Buddhist Theosophical Society was formed. Funds were established to finance various Buddhist causes: Buddhist schools were established; a Buddhist press was started; and a Sinhalese newspaper was inaugurated. One important event that occurred around this time was the attack on a Buddhist procession by the Catholics in Kotahena. In the aftermath, as an outcome of the offenders not being prosecuted by the colonial authorities, the Sri Lankan Buddhists took various measures: representations were made to the Colonial Office in London; a Buddhist flag was devised; and an agitation for a new legislation to prevent abuse of Buddhist temporalities was started. One outcome of this was Dharmapala’s falling out with the theosophists and the formation of the Mahabodhi Society.