It seems that one of Sri Lankans most iconic tourist attractions, Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress, might not be quite what we thought.

The towering flat-topped rock in the middle of the central plain is a ‘must see’ for tourists, and one of Sri Lanka’s eight UNESCO World Heritage sites.

But Tourism Ministry Secretary Chulananda Perera says new information has emerged that suggests that Sigiriya was actually created as a royal leisure park.

He says: “We all go to Sigiriya thinking that Sigiriya is a fortress. If Sigiriya was a fortress, why was it so beautifully built, with so many ponds and so many flower gardens.

“Sigiriya is not really a fortress, but a beautiful leisure park built by the kings at that time”, he said, adding that new evidence has been found that supports this theory.