Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Legislative capital in Colombo District, Sri Lanka
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital of Sri Lanka in Colombo District and sits on former swampland around Lake Diyawanna Oya. The area stretches southeast of Colombo and includes modern administrative buildings, residential neighborhoods, and green spaces along the lakeshore.
A chieftain built a fortress here in the 13th century, which later became the center of a kingdom. This realm lasted until the arrival of the Portuguese in the early 16th century and lost its central role afterward.
The name comes from the Sinhalese word for fortress and refers to the old fortification that once formed the center. Today you see government buildings next to residential quarters where families live in small houses and local markets shape daily routines.
Nugegoda railway station and several bus lines connect the city with Colombo and the surrounding areas. A visit combines well with a walk by the lake or a side trip to the neighboring suburbs.
Rice paddies and plantations run through the urban area and create a mix of rural greenery and administrative buildings. These agricultural plots remain even as houses and offices grow around them.
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