A description of Kelani Vihara cannot be complete without speaking of the talented painter who turned it into a gallery of Sinhala art. Mrs. Helena Wijewardene, having decided upon the restoration wor [...]
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When the Portuguese destroyed the ancient Viharaya in 1575, all those sculptural work and the paintings of antiquity, perished with it. Hence it is a pity that there is no evidence of any ancient pain [...]
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The old paintings were done when the temple was rebuilt in the Kandyan period. They decorated the walls and ceilings of the two chambers of the old wing. In these old paintings we could clearly notice [...]
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From ancient times the tradition has been to paint the walls of temples with portrayals of the Jataka stories, but Kelani Vihara has made a welcome departure from this custom in its new paintings. Ins [...]
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In the year 1927, a cultural pageant, on the lines of the Esala Perahera of Kandy was inaugurated by Mr. Don Walter Wijewardene. It was named Duruthu Perahera and was held with a duel purpose. The fir [...]
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Upon the death of Ven. Mapitigama Buddharakkhita Thera, the ninth in the line of succession, Ven. Thalevala Vijitha Dhammarakkhita Thera succeeded to the incumbency of the temple in 1962. With his asc [...]
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Under the competent guidance of the Ven. Maha Thera, the Sunday Dhamma School of Kelani Vihara was reorganised and given a new lift to suit modern times. It has already proved itself to be the best of [...]
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At this historic temple a procession known as "the Duruthu Perahera" is held on the pre-full moon poya day of the month of Duruthu (January) every year. On this occasion, hundreds and thousands of peo [...]
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