The Coat of Arms

The Crown

The Royal Crown represents the Kingdom of Jaffna. The Crown was conical in shape, made of gold and studded with resplendent gems such as rubies, emeralds and diamonds.

The Coat

The colour of the coat is maroon velvet on the outside and white silk on the inside. The Coat is edged with golden tassels and tied with golden tassel braids.

The Shield

The Royal Shield has a white background and on the shield shows several royal emblems.

The Bull

The Arya Cakravarti, Kings of Jaffna, bore the emblem of the Bull (Nandi) couchant, facing left and with its right arm raised. It has a hump and a large dewlap, black horns which are uncut and around its neck a golden chain with a golden bell. The bull itself is white.

The Crescent Moon and the Sun

The silver crescent moon with a golden sun, the Arya Cakravarti, Kings of Jaffna, claimed divine origin from the Moon and the Sun.

The Conch Shell

The Conch Shells which spiral to the right are very rare and considered especially sacred. The conch is an emblem of power, authority and sovereignty.

The White Parasol

In the centre above the bull, is a white Parasol with golden tassels and white pearls. The parasol is made of white silk and it is an emblem of power and royalty.

The Emblem of Setu

The legend “Setu” is written horizontally below the arms of the bull (Nandi) couchant, in large Tamil characters in black. The emblem of “Setu” is a reference to Setukavalan or the Guardians of Rameswaram, Adam’s Bridge, a chain of coral reef islands connecting Rameswaram to Ceylon in Mannar.

The Coat of Arms and the Royal Flag was created with the help of Professor S. Pathmanathan and Professor S. Sathiyaseelan of Sri Lanka.

The Coat of Arms
Eng. C.Q.C.M. Walschots
(Heraldic Designer)