Anuradhapura was the first capital in Si Lanka. This ancient city was founded by King Pandukabhaya, who was the first Sri Lankan born king. This was the capital of Sinhalese from 4th Cen. BC to 11th Cen. AD. In this period, Arahath Mahinda, son of Emperor Ashoka came to Anuradhapura and introduce Buddhism to King Devanampiyathissa. After this incident, the whole Sri Lankan lifestyle engaged with Buddhism and it came to be the dominant religion of the Sri Lankans. A new culture was born. Temples and Viharas were built in Anuradhapura.
A sampling of sacred Bodhi tree in India and the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha arrived in Anuradhapura period. In several times south Indian invaders came to Anuradhapura captured the capital and ruled. In that invasions, Buddhist temples were destroyed.
When Sinhalese king become the ruler of country restored damaged temples, but couldn’t stop the invasions. Finally, the capital shifted to Polonnaruwa.
Today we can find ruins of ancient marvels of Sinhalese in Anuradhapura. UNESCO declared Anuradhapura as a World Heritage Site in 1982.