It is believed that Kelaniya is older than the ruin cites of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. When Lord Buddha visited Mahiyanganaya , Sri Lanka for the first time after the 9 months of the Enlightenment, the king Maniakkitha, was one of the kings who has come there to pay homage as the Mahawamsa states.
It is said that the ancient Stupa was first built at Kelaniya to enshrine a gem-studded throne on which the Buddha preached the sermons to the king Maniakkitha,
Therefore the Kelaniya the historical temple has a very long history.