Siri Vajiraramaya is arguably the best known Sri Lankan Buddhist temple throughout the world due to the renowned resident monks who spread the teaching of the Buddha worldwide. Ven Narada and Ven Piyadassi were household names in many parts of the world.
The temple in the heart of the capital city of Colombo was founded in 1901 by the erudite monk from South Sri Lanka, the Most Venerable Pelene Siri Vajirajana Maha Nayaka Thera. It has been declared a Sacred Site by the State on 6 September 2009.