The Duruthu Perahara, held at the Raja Maha Vihara temple in Kelaniya, 8 km (5 miles) out side Colombo, is seconed only to the Kandy Perahara in september. Held annually in January , it commemorates the first visit of the Buddha to Sri Lanka.

The Duruthu Perahera has taken place since 1927 and celebrates the Buddha's first visit to Sri Lanka more than 2500 years ago, attracting hundreds of thousands of people to the sacred Kelaniya Temple in Colombo. In commemoration of this visit a procession (perahera) is held for three nights in the month of January at Kelaniya (10 km. from Colombo). It is a colourful pageant with elephants, dancers and drummers, whip crackers attracting thousands of spectators.

It comprises three perahera (processions) featuring costumed actors, dancers, musicians, devotees dressed in white and elephants.

The firstprocession, Udamaluwa Perahera, starts on the upper terrace of the temple with the ritual handing over of a secret casket. Cannon fire marks the beginning of the parade and the casket is carefully placed on a colourful cushion.

The second procession, Pahathamaluwa Perahera, is more colourful but continues with the elephants carrying the casket and divine insignia.

The festival reaches its climax with the Randoli Perahera, the most magnificent of the processions, held on the day prior to the January full moon.