Capital of Sri Lanka

Last updated

The current legislative capital of Sri Lanka is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and the executive and judicial capital is Colombo. Over the course of the island's history, the national capital has been in several locations other than [1] Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. [1]

Contents

List of capitals

The following is a list of cities which have historically served as the capital city of Sri Lanka and its predecessor states.

Mythological

Historical

Pre-Anuradhapura period (543–377 BC)

Anuradhapura period (437 BC–1017)

Polonnaruwa period (1017–1232)

Transitional period (1232–1597)

Kandyan period (1597–1815)

British Ceylon period (1815–1948)

Modern Sri Lanka (1948–present)

Others

Transitional period (1232–1597)

When the island was divided during the Transitional period, multiple capital cities existed at one time.

Notes

  1. ↑ Also known as Sīhagiri
  2. ↑ Also known as Pulatthipura, Pulatthinagara, Jananathapura by the Colas, Vijayarajapura and Parakkamapura
  3. ↑ Also known as Gaṅgāsiripura

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sinhala kingdom</span> Series of monarchies in Sri Lanka from 543 BCE to 1815 CE

The Sinhala kingdom or Sinhalese kingdom refers to the successive Sinhalese kingdoms that existed in what is today Sri Lanka. The Sinhalese kingdoms are kingdoms known by the city at which its administrative centre was located. These are in chronological order: the kingdoms of Tambapanni, Upatissa Nuwara, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambadeniya, Gampola, Kotte, Sitawaka and Kandy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of ancient Sri Lanka</span>

The architecture of ancient Sri Lanka displays a rich diversity, varying in form and architectural style from the Anuradhapura Kingdom through the Kingdom of Kandy (1469–1815). Sinhalese architecture also displays many ancient North Indian influences. Buddhism had a significant influence on Sri Lankan architecture after it was introduced to the island in the 3rd century BC, and ancient Sri Lankan architecture was mainly religious, with more than 25 styles of Buddhist monasteries. Significant buildings include the stupas of Jetavanaramaya and Ruwanvelisaya in the Anuradhapura kingdom and further in the Polonnaruwa kingdom. The palace of Sigiriya is considered a masterpiece of ancient architecture and ingenuity, and the fortress in Yapahuwa and the Temple of the tooth in Kandy are also notable for their architectural qualities. Ancient Sri Lankan architecture is also significant to sustainability, notably Sigiriya which was designed as an environmentally friendly structure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parakramabahu I</span> King of Polonnaruwa from 1153 to 1186

Parākramabāhu I, or Parakramabahu the Great, was the king of Polonnaruwa from 1153 to 1186. He oversaw the expansion and beautification of his capital, constructed extensive irrigation systems, reorganised the country's army, reformed Buddhist practices, encouraged the arts and undertook military campaigns in South India and Burma. The adage, "Not even a drop of water that comes from the rain must flow into the ocean without being made useful to man" is one of his most famous utterances."

Alagakkonara, also known as Alakeshwara, were a prominent feudal family that provided powerful ministers and military rulers during the medieval period in Sri Lanka. Some historians claim that the family was of Tamil origin, possibly from Madurai or Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu, India. The family arrived in Sri Lanka around the 13th century and naturalized themselves in Sri Lanka.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingdom of Polonnaruwa</span> Sinhalese kingdom in present-day Sri Lanka (1055-1232)

The Kingdom of Polonnaruwa was the Sinhalese kingdom that expanded across the island of Sri Lanka and several overseas territories, from 1070 until 1232. The kingdom started expanding its overseas authority during the reign of Parakramabahu the Great.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingdom of Dambadeniya</span> Sinhalese kingdom in present-day Sri Lanka (1220–1345)

The Kingdom of Dambadeniya was a medieval kingdom in what is present-day Sri Lanka. The kingdom's rulers reigned from 1220–1345.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anuradhapura kingdom</span> Ancient Sinhalese kingdom from 437 BC to 1017 CE

The Anuradhapura kingdom, named for its capital city, was the second established kingdom in ancient Sri Lanka. According to the Mahāvaṃsa, it was founded by King Pandukabhaya in 437 BC, whose authority extended throughout the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingdom of Kotte</span> Sinhalese kingdom in southwestern Sri Lanka from 1412 to 1597

The Kingdom of Kotte, named after its capital, Kotte, was a Sinhalese kingdom that flourished in Sri Lanka during the 15th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sandakada pahana</span> Carved semicircular stone slab in Sinhalese architecture of ancient Sri Lanka

Sandakada Pahana, also known as Moonstone, is a unique feature of the architecture of ancient Sri Lanka. It is an elaborately carved semi-circular stone slab, usually placed at the bottom of staircases and entrances. First seen in the latter stage of the Anuradhapura period, the sandakada pahana evolved through the Polonnaruwa, Gampola and Kandyan period. According to historians, the sandakada pahana symbolises the cycle of Samsāra in Buddhism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingdom of Tambapanni</span> Sinhalese kingdom in present-day Sri Lanka (543-437 BC)

The Kingdom of Tambapaṇṇī was the first Sinhalese kingdom in Sri Lanka. Its administrative centre was based at Tambapaṇṇī. It existed between 543 BC and 437 BC. According to the Mahavamsa, the Kingdom was founded by Prince Vijaya and his followers.

Upatissagāma was the second capital of the Kingdom of Tambapanni, during the Pre Anuradhapura period of Sri Lanka. It was seven or eight miles further north of the previous capital Tambapaṇṇī, which was in present-day Puttalam. The city was established by Upatissa, a follower and senior minister of Vijaya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Temple of the Tooth</span> Temple complex in Kandy, Sri Lanka

Sri Dalada Maligawa, commonly known in English as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, is a Buddhist temple in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the Royal Palace Complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. The relic was historically held by Sinhalese kings. The temple of the tooth is a World Heritage Site mainly due to the temple and the relic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anuradhapura period</span> Period in the history of Sri Lanka during the Anuradhapura Kingdom (377 BC-1017 AD)

The Anuradhapura period was a period in the history of Sri Lanka of the Anuradhapura Kingdom from 377 BCE to 1017 CE. The period begins when Pandukabhaya, King of Upatissa Nuwara moved the administration to Anuradhapura, becoming the kingdom's first monarch. Anuradhapura is heralded as an ancient cosmopolitan citadel with diverse populations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajarata</span>

Rajarata was one of three historical regions of the island of Sri Lanka for about 1,700 years from the 6th century BCE to the early 13th century CE. Several ancient cities, including Tambapanni, Upatissa Nuwara, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, were established as capitals within the area by successive rulers. Rajarata was under the direct administration of the King. Two other areas, Mayarata and Ruhunurata, were ruled by the king's brothers "Mapa" and "Epa". The Magha invasion in the 13th century brought about the end of the Rajarata kingdom.

Parakramabahu V was King of Gampola who ruled from 1344 or 1345 to 1359. He was the Second King of Gampola co-ruling with his brother Bhuvanaikabahu IV, and was succeeded by his nephew Vikramabahu III. Parakramabahu spent his last days as a refugee in the Principality of Ruhuna after the domain was invaded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parakramabahu II</span> King of Dambadeniya

Parakramabahu II, also known as Panditha Parakramabāhu, was the King of Dambadeniya in 13th century, whose reign lasted from 1236 to 1270. As a pioneer in literature, he was bestowed with the honorary title "Kalikala Sahitya Sarvagna Pandita". Parakramabahu's reign is notable for the creation of numerous Sinhalese literal works such as, Kausilumina, Pūjāvaliya, Pāli Vishuddḥi Mārgaya, Thūpavaṃsa and Sidhath Sangarāva. He launched a campaign against the Eastern Ganga invader Kalinga Magha, and successfully expelled him in 1255, unifying Sri Lanka under one rule. He succeeded his father Vijayabahu III as King of Dambadeniya, and was succeeded by his elder son, Vijayabahu IV, after his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bibliography of Sri Lanka</span>

This is a bibliography of works on Sri Lanka.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sinhalese monarchy</span> Monarchy of Sri Lanka (543 BCE–1815 CE)

The Sinhalese monarchy has its origins in the settlement of North Indian Indo-Aryan immigrants to the island of Sri Lanka. The Landing of Vijay as described in the traditional chronicles of the island, the Dipavamsa, Mahavamsa and Culavamsa, and later chronicles, recount the date of the establishment of the first Sinhala Kingdom in 543 BC when Prince Vijaya, an Indian Prince, and 700 of his followers are claimed to have landed on the island of Sri Lanka and established the Kingdom of Tambapanni. In Sinhalese mythology, Prince Vijaya and followers are told to be the progenitors of the Sinhalese people. However according to the story in the Divyavadana, the immigrants were probably not led by a scion of a royal house in India, as told in the romantic legend, but rather may have been groups of adventurous and pioneering merchants exploring new lands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transitional period of Sri Lanka</span> Period of Sri Lankan history from 1232 to 1597

The Transitional period of Sri Lanka spans from the end of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa, in 1232, to the start of the Kandyan period in 1597. The period is characterised by the succession of capitals that followed the fall of the Polonnaruwa Kingdom and the creation of the Jaffna kingdom and Crisis of the Sixteenth Century.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2
  2. ↑ Malalasekera 2017a.
  3. ↑ Malalasekera 2017d.
  4. ↑ palikanon.com 2019.
  5. ↑ Malalasekera 2017e.
  6. 1 2 Malalasekera 2017f.
  7. ↑ Codrington 1926, p. 9.
  8. 1 2 Senaveratna 1930, p. 37.
  9. 1 2 Malalasekera 2017b.
  10. ↑ UNESCO World Heritage Centre 2019.
  11. ↑ Lambert 2015.
  12. 1 2 3 4 De Silva 2014, p. 48.
  13. 1 2 3 4 wisdomlib 2009.
  14. ↑ De Silva 2014, p. 31.
  15. 1 2 3 4 De Silva 2014, p. 741.
  16. 1 2 Siriweera 1970, p. 23.
  17. 1 2 De Silva 2014, p. 87.
  18. 1 2 3 4 Hulugalle 2008.
  19. 1 2 3 Siriweera 1970, p. 25.
  20. 1 2 3 4 De Silva 2014, p. 110.
  21. ↑ lakdiva.org 2019.
  22. ↑ Malalasekera 2017c.
  23. ↑ De Silva 2014, p. 111.
  24. 1 2 3 De Silva 2014, p. 135.
  25. ↑ Somaratna 1969, p. 180.
  26. ↑ Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte Divisional Secretariat Office 2009.
  27. ↑ Somaratna 1969, p. 93.
  28. ↑ Pieris 2013, p. 24.
  29. ↑ Somaratna 1969, p. 140.
  30. ↑ Colombo Municipal Council 2011.
  31. ↑ Somaratna 1969, p. 391.

Bibliography

  • Blaze, L. E. (1933). History of Ceylon (PDF) (Eighth ed.). Colombo: Christian literature society for India and Africa.
  • Codrington, H. W. (1926). A Short History Of Ceylon. London: Macmillan & Co.
  • De Silva, K. M. (2014). A history of Sri Lanka ([Revised.] ed.). Colombo: Vijitha Yapa Publications. ISBN   978-955-8095-92-8.
  • Pieris, Anoma (2013). Architecture and nationalism in Sri Lanka : the trouser under the cloth. London, New York: Routledge. ISBN   9780415630023.
  • Senaveratna, John M. (1930). The Story of the Sinhalese from the Most Ancient Times Up to the End of "the Mahavansa" Or Great Dynasty: Vijaya to Maha Sena, B.C. 543 to A.D.302. Colombo: W. M. A. Wahid & Bros. ISBN   9788120612716.
  • Siriweera, Wathuge Indrakirti (1970). "Economic Conditions of Ceylon (C.1070 A.D. to 1544)" (PDF). Thesis Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. University of London.
  • Somaratna, Gintota Parana Vidanage (June 1969). "Political History Of The Kingdom Of Kotte (c. A.D. 1400-1521)" (PDF). Thesis Presented for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. University of London.
  • "Tambapanni". www.palikanon.com. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  • Hulugalle, H. A. J. (5 February 2008). "Ancient capitals of Sri Lanka". Sri Lanka Guardian.
  • Lambert, Courtney (15 December 2015). "Travel Sri Lanka: The Tale of Sigiriya Rock". HuffPost. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  • Malalasekera, G. P. (5 February 2017a). "Abhaya". www.softerviews.org. Dictionary of Pāli Proper Names. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  • Malalasekera, G. P. (5 February 2017b). "Anurādhapura". www.softerviews.org. Dictionary of Pāli Proper Names. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  • Malalasekera, G. P. (5 February 2017c). "Bhuvanekabāhu". www.softerviews.org. Dictionary of Pāli Proper Names. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  • Malalasekera, G. P. (5 February 2017d). "Sirīsavatthu". www.softerviews.org. Dictionary of Pāli Proper Names. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  • Malalasekera, G. P. (5 February 2017e). "Tambapaṇṇī". www.softerviews.org. Dictionary of Pāli Proper Names. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  • Malalasekera, G. P. (5 February 2017f). "Upatissagāma". www.softerviews.org. Dictionary of Pāli Proper Names. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  • "Ancient City of Sigiriya". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  • "Chapter V-The Dambadeniya and Gampola kings". lakdiva.org. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  • "Cultural Background". Wayback Machine . Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte Divisional Secretariat Office. 12 February 2009. Archived from the original on 12 February 2009. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  • "Pulacceri: 1 definition". www.wisdomlib.org. wisdomlib. 12 April 2009.
  • "The History of the City". Wayback Machine . Colombo Municipal Council. 2 December 2011. Archived from the original on 2 December 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.