When King Parakramaahu VI (1415-1467) ruled the country, he built this temple closer to his palace, with the intention of doing the necessary duties to the Sangha regularly. With the arrival of the Portuguese armies, the Kotte Kingdom faced a tragic situation. The fate of the temple was no difference. The subjugation of the maritime provinces by the Portuguese in the latter part of the 17th century and consequent loss of royal patronage, dealt a severe blow to Buddhism. As a result many places of worship were neglected. Kotte Raja Maha Viharaya seems to have fallen on especially hard times, was abandoned and covered by a dense thicket. It was in 1813, when Ven. Pilane Dharma Keerthi Sri Buddha Rakkhitha Thera found this ancient temple in ruins and restored it to the present condition.
Posted on: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 13:11:52 +0000
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