What are the standard rip current warning flags in Sri Lanka?

On Sri Lankan beaches, there is a shared flag system, where a plain red flag means severe danger and also signals that swimming is not allowed because of strong rip currents. If you see a flag made of red and yellow sections, that usually means there is a lifeguard area nearby, and swimming is permitted there since the surf is being watched.

On the southern and western shoreline, seasonal monsoons can change the sea fast. These shifts, even when the surface looks calm, can still produce powerful underwater pull currents that appear in a short time. You should not go into the ocean while the red flag is up, and when you do swim, you should head to the water directly between the red and yellow flags, since the local authorities keep an eye on the conditions there.