Divisional Secretariat - Narammala

History of Narammala Divisional Secretariat

Narammala is the main city in the Narammala Divisional Secretariat & suburb of the Kurunegala District. From ancient times, it belongs to Dambadeniya Hathpaththuwa, with two sub divisions called North Dambadeni Udukaha and West Dambadeniya Udukaha Korala. This Divisional Secretariat belongs to Dambadeniya Polling Division with an area which covers ​​about 10.944 square Kilo Meters. This division covering fifty four Grama Niladhari Divisions, 144 villages with a gross population of 62,162 approxcimately. Narammala Divisional Secretariat is located next to, Pannala Divisional Secretariat, Kuliyapitiya Divisional Secretariat - East, Weerambugedara Divisional Secretariat and Polgahawela Divisional Secretariat.

In the history of the Narammala, Polonnaruwa was dislodged as a result of invasions of Kalinga King Maga in early twelfth century and Dambadeniya was selected as the third kingdom of ancient Ceylon by King Vijayabahu III in AD 1232. The King Vijayabahu III, by building a palace on top of Dambadeniya rock, who first made Dambadeniya as his capital in Sri Lankan history. The historic temple Siri Vijayasundararamaya, was built with the direction of the King closely located to his the palace.

In AD 1236, his son, Prince Parakramabahu II was crowned as the second king inheritancely after end of 04 years of period of King Vijayabahu III. He was considered as a great poet and a profolic writer and among the books he wrote are ''Kavsilumina'' which is considered as the great piece of sinhalese literature.  Further, Sidath Sangarawa, Poojawaliya, Elu Aththanagulu Wansaya, Saddarma Rathanavaliya are other outstanding books that emerged at the time of the Dambadeniya Kingdom by King Parakramabahu II.

King Parakramabahu II built a beautiful three-store shrine in house the Tooth Relic of the Lord Buddha to fulfill the aspirations of his father. It is said that, on the way to Temple of the Tooth Relic in Dambadeniya, the king came across the area which is currently called as Narammala to offer the golden flower which called as "Ran Naa Mala" . The area where the Ran + na + mala was offered has been added to the folk tales as Na + ran + mala to Narammala. With the arrival of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Dambadeniya, the Dalada Perahera was held from Siriwardanapura to Siri Vijaya Sundararamaya, celebrating as grand occasion. Even today the Dambadeniya Dalada Perahera is held in a grand manner based on the Dambadeniya Siri Wijayasundara Temple.

The 34th year of the reign of Parakramabahu Niridu II, the brightest period of the Dambadeniya Kingdom. In AD 1270, his son, Prince Vijayabahu IV, ascended the throne. His brother Prince Bhuvanekabahu I became king of the Dambadeniya kingdom in 1272 when he was assassinated by an ally in an internal dispute. The Kingdom of Dambadeniya came to an end in 1284 with the abduction of the Tooth Relic by the invasion of Arya Chakra Varthi during the reign of King Bhuvanekabahu I, who played a major role in the advancement of Buddhism.

Paddy and coconut plantations are predominant in the Narammala Divisional Secretariat which has such a proud history. Today, the area is home to a variety of beautiful landscapes where Buddhism, Islam and Catholicism are prevalent.