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by Florence Wickramage

"Know O noble friend,
The exalted City
of Jayawardhanapura
Surpassing the City
of Gods in its majesty
That glorious city
Which has earned
its name of victory
By its deeds of merit,
Behold Jayawardhanapura
Whose citizens are true and loyal
Rich in faith to the Triple Gem."

(Stanza 7 Selalihini Sandesaya)

Studying Selalihini Sandesaya as a young school girl, I was enthralled with the descriptions of the Diyawanna Oya and the route the Selalihiniya was directed to take by the Ven. Thotagamuwe Sri Rahula Thera. Kotte was a citadel of the Sinhala kings and its beauties have been embodied in several Sandesa Kavyas. I pictured in my mind how glorious Kotte would have been in those ancient days.

My mind goes back to a day in early 1982 where I was a member of a group of electronic and print media journalists taken on a familiarisation tour of the new Parliament at Sri Jayawardhanapura Kotte, by the Ministry of State and Information, a month before it was officially commissioned.

Much had been said about the architecture of the new Parliament and also that the whole complex when viewed from the air "would look like a lotus flower in bloom. While reaching the new Parliament site set amidst the cool waters of the Diyawanna Oya on a tastefully landscaped area, I went down Memory Lane with the Selalihiniya of the Sandesa Kavya and in reality accompanied the `Selalihiniya' in to the complex - (I was a Producer at the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation of which the official symbol is the Selalihiniya). The approach to the Parliament site was lined with Esela trees in full bloom and arriving at the front of the Parliament, a pond full of lotus flowers in bloom was a refreshing sight.

We toured the whole Parliamentary complex and truly it can be termed as a beautiful work of art for this magnificent structure both inside and out inspires wonder and respect. Geoffrey Bawa who has blended in his unique concept of engineering and architectural artistry and the decorative refinement of generations of artisans, craftsmen, sculptors and artistes has gifted the nation with this masterpiece. This magnificent edifice is a combination of oriental splendour and modern technological sophistication.

Against the refreshing backdrop of the waters of the Diyawanna Oya, either lapping the concrete edges of the complex or flowing down the terraced steps of the building, the dignified grace of this architectural composition conveys something of the mood of those who built the Sigiriya, the ancient royal palaces of Anuradhapura or even the Dalada Maligawa.

"Where the Diyawanna Oya broods and waits for the day it can once more gleam like the string of pearls it once was round the throat of the lovely maiden of Kotte. I saw visions of what Kotte should be .

It was the seat of kings... and I thought it should go back to its historical name, Sri Jayawardhanapura as befitted a city with such a splendid history. The spirit of the Kings and the warriors who defended Sri Jayawardhanapura still hovers over Diyawanna Oya". (Anandatissa de Alwis, Minister of State and M.P. for Kotte).

It was this vision which inspired the then J.R.Jayewardene government to give back to Kotte the glories it once knew. Historically Kotte next to Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa was Lanka's capital even before Kandy. Kotte was proclaimed capital of the whole island in 1415 by Parakramabahu VI who reigned for 52 years.

The Sandesa poet instructs his winged messengers to go to Sunethra Devi Pirivena. This pirivena among other historic landmarks still occupies its historical heritage in the new political capital of Sri Lanka.

Travelling from Colombo and entering Sri Jayawardhanapura Road built on reclaimed marsh, and Parliament square, Na Trees (Ironwood - Sri Lanka's National Tree) line both sides of the road while in the waters that surround it bloom with the Nil Manel (Sri Lanka's National Flower).

My first impressions of the august and imposing Chamber of the House, styled between the past and the present dominate my mind.

Entering through the massive bronze door and the silver embossed ceremonial doors to the seven-foot Crest of state, the scintillating ceiling linked together in aluminium squares, the dazzling chandelier, the traditional ornamental flags of Lanka, the delicate low profile of Manjusri murals at the entrance together capture the sacred solemnity and ceremonial grandeur of a lasting monument, quite rightly the heart of the nation.

Sri Jayawardhanapura was a great city five hundred years ago and five hundred years hence, it will still dominates the nation's pulse.

The reclaimed Diyawanna Oya with its tranquil surroundings proclaim the re-birth of a city as historic as any other story of our `Island Paradise'.

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