In the early part of his rule, even King Parakramabahu VI's kingdom was attacked. That was by the army of the Emperor of Vijayanagar. In our local records, he is described as King Kannadi. This was because the language of the people was Kannadi. This kingdom was in Deccan and it was in 1336 AD, that the two brothers, Harihara and Bukta, built this empire.

In keeping with the policy of the 1956 S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike government, the military bases held by the British in the pre-Independence era were taken over. The present Bandaranaike International Airport at Katunayake was a Royal Air Force base then. Titled 'RAF Negombo,' it was set up in 1942 to serve as an Air Force base during World War II. On November 1, 1957, it was handed over to the Royal Ceylon Air Force (RCyAF) and renamed Katunayake.