5/5 Kelum Srimal D. 2 years ago on Google
This
statue
is
located
on
the
Ethagala
rock(height
1100
feet)
in
the
heart
of
Kurunegala
City,
Kurunegala
District
in
the
North
Western
Province
or
Wayamba,
traditionally
called
Sathkorale.
The
city
is
encircled
by
a
series
of
rocks
namely
Athagala,
Ibbagala,
Andagala,
Kuruminiyagala
etc.,
the
most
prominent
being
Athagala,
this
rock
bearing
a
resemblance
to
a
majestic
elephant,
hence
the
names
Athagala
or
Hasthisailapura.
Kurunegala
has
the
third
highest
population
of
the
22
districts
with
1.58
million
of
which
91.2%
are
Buddhists(census
2012).
It
is
93
km
from
Colombo
and
has
direct
roads
to
Kandy
42
km,
Puttalam
87
km,
Dambulla
55
km
and
Negombo
75
km.
A
large
volume
of
traffic
from
Colombo
proceeding
to
Jaffna,
Trincomalee,
Batticaloa,
Anuradhapura
and
Polonnaruwa
pass
through
the
city
and
the
statue
which
is
a
symbol
of
Kurunegala
is
visible
to
all.
Sathkorale
had
been
inhabited
from
the
earliest
times
as
proved
by
Pre-Christian
rock
inscriptions
in
many
parts
of
the
district.
The
people
were
engaged
in
paddy
cultivation
and
the
largest
number
of
small
irrigation
tanks
are
found
here.
Coconut
is
another
important
crop
and
Kurunegala
is
one
apex
of
the
coconut
triangle.
Sathkorale
came
into
prominence
in
the
12th
to
14th
centuries
as
4
capitals
were
located
here.
Parakramabahu
ruled
as
sub
king
at
Panduwasnuwara
in
Dakkinadesa
before
ascending
the
throne
at
Polonnaruwa
in
1153.
The
world’s
first
peace
treaty
between
him
and
king
Gajabahu
II
of
Polonnaruwa
carved
on
a
rock
can
be
seen
near
Gokarella,
about
15
km
from
Kurunegala.
When
Rajarata
was
being
devastated
by
the
invading
Magha
of
Kalinga,
his
advance
to
the
south
was
halted
by
the
leaders
of
Sathkorale.
The
kingdom
of
Dambadeniya
was
established
by
Vijayabahu
III
in
1232.
His
son
Parakramabahu
II(1236-1270)
restored
temples,
improved
the
living
standards
of
the
people
and
ushered
in
Sinhala
literature.
His
forces
expelled
Magha
and
his
army
from
the
country.
King
Buwanaikabahu
I
(1272-1284)
of
Yapahuwa
built
an
exquisitively
carved
stone
Temple
of
the
Tooth
and
engaged
in
diplomatic
relations
with
foreign
countries,
even
sending
an
ambassador
to
the
Caliph
of
Egypt.
King
Parakramabahu
IV
(1302-1326)
contributed
much
to
Sinhala
literature.
The
kings
who
succeeded
him
ruled
until
1326
after
which
the
capital
moved
to
Gampola.
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