A town of north-central Sri Lanka north-northeast of Colombo. The ancient capital of Sinhalese kings of Ceylon, it has extensive ruins and is a Buddhist pilgrimage center.x
ANURADHAPURA, a ruined city of Ceylon, famous for its ancient monuments.
Anuradhapura became the capital of Ceylon in the 5th century B.C., and attained its highest magnificence about the commencement of the Christian era.
The city also contains a sacred Bo-tree, which is said to date back to the year 245 B.C. The railway was extended from Matale to Anuradhapura in 1905.
Though in all probability a Tamil by birth, he declares, in the opening lines of those of his works that have been edited, that he followed the tradition of the Great Minster at Anuradhapura in Ceylon, and the works themselves confirm this in every respect.