Gangaramaya is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Colombo, started by the famous scholar monk Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thera in the late 19th Century. This Buddhist temple includes several imposing buildings and is situated not far from the placid waters of Beira Lake on a plot of land that was originally a small hermitage on a piece of marshy land. It has the main features of a Vihara (temple), the Cetiya (Pagada) the Bodhitree, the Vihara Mandiraya, the Seema malaka (assembly hall for monks) and the Relic Chamber. In addition, a museum, a library, a residential hall, a three storeyed Pirivena, educational halls and an alms hall are also on the premises
Mount Lavinia is a suburb in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is inside the administration boundary of Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council. The area is a mostly residential suburb, known as Colombo's beach retreat it is famed for its "Golden Mile" of beaches, and has long been a hot spot for tourism and nightlife. The area's name arose when the second Governor of Ceylon, Sir Thomas Maitland, acquired land at "Galkissa" (Mount Lavinia) and decided in 1806 to construct a personal residence there. Maitland fell in love with Lovina Aponsuwa, a local mestizo dancer, and continued a romantic affair with her until he was recalled to England in 1811. The Governor's mansion, which he named "Mount Lavinia House" is now the Mount Lavinia Hotel and the village that surrounded the building has subsequently developed into a bustling area, taking its name from the Governor's mistress, Lovina
In a extremely urbanized city of Sri Lanka, having an eye catching water reservoir is like a blessing in disguise. Diyawanna Oya Wetland or also known as the infamous Diyawanna Lake is a urban wetland housed in just away from Colombo main city at Sri Jayawardhanapura – Kotte, the administrative capital of Sri Lanka. In an urbanized city, the water retention and flood protection is extremely important while maintaining the scenic beauty the water reservoir offers in the land. Not only it supports the large amount of water reservoir, it also became a house for many islands, in which one of them holds the Parliament of Sri Lanka. Diyawanna reservoir holds a treasured value of ancient history, specially as the defensive barrier of ancient Kotte Kingdom of Sri Lanka. Even in the ancient literature the Diyawanna Reservoir became a topic of admiration, and apart from that the significance change to the reservoir happened in 1979 and 1980 when the Parliament Complex started to construct, and declaration of the Kotte and newly building land as the administrative capital in Sri Lanka respectively. Nature is also endowed the Diyawanna Lake and the surrounding a gift in a form of wetland, with vast marshlands, wooded area, swamps, islands and also as a protection from heavy rainfall and their consequences as well as temperature regulator of the area and its enriched bio-diversity housing several Flora and fauna , fish and birds of different caliber. As it is declared a wet land, the wildlife sanctuary and the immediate area, there are many activities offered in front of boat rides, recreational activities, exercising activities, sporting, bathing and even enjoying the tracks and park of the Diyawanna Reservoir.
