3rd Mile Post Archaeological Site, Pothuvil

The 3rd Mile Post Archaeological Site (also known as Thune Kanuwa Dagoba/Chaithya) is a ruined Buddhist monastery complex located on Pothuvil - Siyambalanduwa road (A4 highway) about 5 km distance from the Pothuvil (or Pottuvil) town.

History

The Stupa which has been conserved by the Department of Archaeology is 3.1 m in height and believed to be a work belonging to the 4th-6th centuries A.D. (Dissanayaka, 2016). As no single inscription has been found from the site, the history of this monastery complex is uncertain (Dissanayaka, 2016). Stone pillars, remains of ancient buildings and parapet walls can be identified at the site (Withanachchi, 2013).

A protected site

The monastery complex with ruins of an old Dagoba and remaining of buildings situated at third-mile post belonging to Grama Niladhari Division Victor Estate 02-P-17 in Pothuvil Divisional Secretary’s Division are archaeological protected monuments, declared by a government gazette notification published on 10 October 2014.

References

1) Dissanayaka, D.M.BJ.B., 2016. Thuna kanuwa dagoba sanrakshanaya (In Sinhala). Dayada Newsletter. July 2016. 10th edition. Department of Archaeology.p.17.
2) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1884. 10 October 2014. p. 916.
3) Withanachchi, C. R., 2013. Pauranika Sthana Saha Smaraka: Ampara Distrikkaya (In Sinhalese). Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). ISBN: 955-9159-44-5. p.63.