Kelaniya Temple

Legend : It is believed that Kelaniya is the place from where King Vibeeshana ruled after being crowned by Lakshmana. As Lord Rama was in exile for 14 years, could not take part in any coronation ceremony, deputed his younger brother Prince Lakshmana to crown Vibeeshana. Today in this very place a Buddhist shrine and a temple for king Vibeeshana exist. There are murals enshrined outside the Buddhist temple depicting the crowning of King Vibeeshana. Today temples for King Vibeeshana are found throughout Lanka and he is still considered as one of the 4 guardian deities of Sri Lanka. A painting of King Vibeeshana adorns the walls of the new parliament. It is a fact that there is no temple for King Ravana where as many exist for King Vibeeshana. This goes on to prove that his stand towards dharma and justice made him a god in Sri Lanka.
Location : About 10km from Colombo on Colombo-Kandy Road