Polonnaruwa was the first declared capital city by King Vijayabahu, who defeated Chola invaders in 1070 to reunite the nation under a local leader. During the reign of the great King Parakramabahu, who ruled from 1153 to 1186, significant advancements were made in rice cultivation through the construction of a massive irrigation network with reservoirs resembling inland seas. Sri Lanka became known as the Granary of the Orient. Polonnaruwa consists of ruins from the glorious kingdom of King Parakramabahu, with the richness and glamour of this kingdom still evident today. The ancient city of Polonnaruwa remains one of the best-planned archaeological relic sites in the country, standing as a testimony to the discipline and greatness of the kingdom’s first rulers.