Samanabedda Purana Gallen Viharaya, also known as Samanabedda Len Viharaya (Sinhala: සමනබැද්ද පුරාණ ගල්ලෙන් විහාරය) is an ancient Buddhist cave temple located in the Grama-Niladari Division of Uhana-Galahitiyagoda in Ampara District, Sri Lanka (Withanachchi, 2013). The site can be reached by travelling along the Ampara - Uhana road about 7 km distance from Ampara town.
History
The ruined structures and other remains on the temple premises indicate that this site has a long history running back to the Anuradhapura Period.
Archaeological Ruins
This site is not completely excavated and many of the ruins are still hidden in the surrounding forest. The cave shrine is at the entrance of the site, housing two Buddha statues: a seated Buddha and a reclining Buddha. A torso of a Buddha statue which had been discovered at the site can also be seen in the cave shrine. Near the cave shrine is a small rock plain on which a dilapidated Stupa mound is identified (Withanachchi, 2013). Stone pillars, Siri Pathul Gal, base stones, and the debris of old buildings and structures are largely found on the rock plateau located west of the Stupa.
References
1) Withanachchi, C. R., 2013. Pauranika Sthana Saha Smaraka: Ampara Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). ISBN: 955-9159-44-5. pp.18-19.
