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The Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara or Kelaniya Temple is a Buddhist Temple in the city of Kelaniya situated seven miles from Colombo. Buddhists believe the temple to have been hallowed during the third and final visit of the Buddha to Sri Lanka, eight years after gaining enlightenment. Its history would thus go back to before 500 BCE.

The Mahawansa records that the original stupa at Kelaniya enshrined a gem-studded throne on which the Buddha sat and preached.The temple flourished during the Kotte era but much of its land was confiscated during the Portrugese empire, however under Dutch rule there were new gifts of land and under the patronage of King Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe the temple was rebuilt. It was refurbished in the first half of the twentieth century. The temple is also famous for its image of the reclining Buddha and paintings which depict important events in the life of the Buddha etc, It is the venue for the Duruthu Maha Perehera procession each January.

	Kelaniya Temple
	The Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara or Kelaniya Temple is a Buddhist Temple in the city of Kelaniya situated seven miles from Colombo. Buddhists believe the temple to have been hallowed during the third and final visit of the Buddha to Sri Lanka, eight years after gaining enlightenment. Its history would thus go back to before 500 BCE. The Mahawansa records that the original stupa at Kelaniya enshrined a gem-studded throne on which the Buddha sat and preached.The temple flourished during the Kotte era but much of its land was confiscated during the Portrugese empire, however under Dutch rule there were new gifts of land and under the patronage of King Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe the temple was rebuilt. It was refurbished in the first half of the twentieth century. The temple is also famous for its image of the reclining Buddha and paintings which depict important events in the life of the Buddha etc, It is the venue for the Duruthu Maha Perehera procession each January.