Facts About Sri Jayawardenapura-kotte |
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|---|---|
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| State | Western Province |
| Founded | r of the 14th century |
| Area | 17 km² |
| Population | 115826 (2001) |
| Lat Long Coordinates | 6°54′39″N79°53′16″E |
| Time Zone | (UTC+ 6) |
| area Code | 011 -10100 |
| Language | Tamil, Sinhala, English |
| Major Religion | Buddhism,Hindus,Christian |
| Point of interest | candrakanta pasana , Kotavehara’ at Baddagana , King’s Treasure House , Veherakanda memorial , Arama |
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
About city
The island country of Sri Lanka lies in the Indian Ocean.
For a long time, the capital of this country was Colombo. Colombo had grown from a small fishing settlement into a huge city and one of its suburbs was Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. The suburb is quite old and was formerly known as Kotte. It was considered to be the Sinhalese capital of the Kingdom of Kotte from 1415 to 1565.
From the sixteenth century, the Portuguese brought Colombo into prominence and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte was pushed to the background. Colombo remained the capital of the country till 1977 when the capital was finally shifted to Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. In 1982, the new parliament building was inaugurated here. Today, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte remains the seat of the legislature and the judiciary while Colombo remains the commercial capital of the country.
Geography
The city covers an area of 17 sq km and had a population of 115,826 in 2001. Today, it is a planned urban site. The main government buildings are located on a small island on the lake Diyawanna Oye. Much of the city is reclaimed swamps. The city enjoys a tropical rainforest climate. The temperature remains high throughout the year. Though there is a wet season and a dry season, precipitation is never less than 60 mm in any month.
How to reach (transport)
There is no airport in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. The nearest airport is at the former capital city of Colombo. A number of flights ply to different destinations in Asia. The most important international airport of the country is the Bandaranaike International airport located near Negombo. The Colombo Fort Railway Train system connects Colombo with Kotte while bus services are also available to the Negombo airport.
When to visit
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte has a hot, humid climate throughout the year. However, you should avoid the months of October and November as these are the wettest months and you are likely to encounter rain and flood.
Points of interest (places to visit)
While most of the popular sites are located in Colombo, here are some of the interesting things to see in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte:
- The University of Sri Lanka ― one of the oldest seats of learning in the country. It was founded in 1873 as a Buddhist center of learning called the Vidyodaya Pirivena and attained the status of university in 1958. It was renamed in 1978.
- The new parliament building erected on the lake by dredging the surrounding marshy lands is another landmark of the city.
Unfortunately, the old fort which originally stood here has been torn up and the building materials have been used for construction purposes.
Accommodation
When talking about a great vacation, nothing can compensate a good stay. And Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte also has a couple of options to justify the statement. While the best hotels are located at the commercial capital of Colombo, quite a few good hotels have also come up at Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. They include Casa Colombo Hotel, Supun Arcade Residency, Unique Towers, and Paradise Road, etc.
