Kotte

Kotte, also known as Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte in its modern form, is a suburb and administrative area of the Colombo District in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. It lies southeast of Colombo city across the Diyawanna Oya and forms part of the greater Colombo metropolitan area. The area is the seat of local government and houses several government institutions.

Historically, Kotte refers to the medieval Kingdom of Kotte, a prominent Sinhalese polity that rose to regional significance in the late medieval period. The kingdom played a key role in politics, trade, and Buddhist scholarship before succession disputes and colonial intervention altered the region’s balance of power. The modern suburb preserves the name and sits within the broader historical landscape associated with the ancient kingdom.

In contemporary times, the locality is best known as the site of Sri Lanka’s Parliament, which is housed in the administrative capital area of Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. The Parliament and related government offices mark the area as a center of national governance. Kotte today features a mix of residential neighborhoods, schools, temples, and commercial establishments, with transportation connections to central Colombo and surrounding suburbs via major roads.

Overall, Kotte represents a convergence of Sri Lanka’s historical heritage and its current administrative and urban development, illustrating the continuity between the country’s medieval heritage and its modern governance.