| Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara | |
|---|---|
කැලණිය රජ මහා විහාරය | |
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Buddhism |
| District | Gampaha |
| Province | Western Province |
| Year consecrated | 580 BC (Approx.2600 years back) |
| Location | |
| Location | Kelaniya, Sri Lanka |
| Municipality | Kelaniya |
  Shown within Sri Lanka | |
| Geographic coordinates | 06°57′11.3″N 79°55′06.7″E / 6.953139°N 79.918528°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Buddhist Temple |
The Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara or Kelaniya Temple is a Buddhist temple in Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. It is located 11 km (6.8 mi) north-east of Colombo. The current chief incumbent (chief priest) is Venerable Professor Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangharakkhitha Thera.
The temple has often been associated with the rise and fall of Sri Lanka, with the popular saying that as the Kelaniya temple rose, Sri Lanka rose and as it fell, the country and its administration fell. It has thus had a deep association with the political powers of the country. As such, the temple is frequently visited by politicians both government and opposition.
- ^ "Protected Monument List 2012-12-12" (PDF). Department of Archaeology. 12 December 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-11-23. Retrieved 27 March 2016.