Kelaniya is a small town very close to Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is in Gampaha District, close to the road between Colombo and Kandy and Biyagama road. It is sited on the Kelani River, which takes its name from the town. It is known for the Buddhist temple built on the banks of the river. It is a cult-centre for god Vibhishana.
Kelaniya (Kalyani) is mentioned in the Buddhist chronicle, the Mahawamsa which states that the Gautama Buddha (5th century BCE) visited the place, after which the dagoba of the temple was built.
The town is also of historical importance as the capital of a provincial king Kelani Tissa (1st century BCE) whose daughter, Vihara Maha Deviwas the mother of king Dutugemunu the great, regarded as the most illustrious of the 186 or so kings of Sri Lanka between the 5th century BCE and 1815.
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