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After a rather gloomy and unstable period in the history of Sri Lanka King Parakramabahu the Great came along. He reigned from 1153 to 1186 AD and in those 33 years he worked wonders. Most importantly he set into motion enormous irrigation projects so the cultivation of rice could thrive. He created new roads and ports to expand commerce. He filled the new capital, Polonnaruwa, with palaces, temples, shrines, ponds - even a hospital. He reinforced Buddhism as the state religion, but was tolerant of other beliefs. This is what's left of his 7-story palace. The inset shows what you might have seen 900 years ago.

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