Sirimalwatta Ambalama (Sinhala: සිරිමල්වත්ත අම්බලම) is an old wayside rest in the village of Sirimalwatta in Kandy District, Sri Lanka. The Buddhist temple Sirimalwatta Raja Maha Viharaya is located near this Ambalama.
History
Ambalamas are traditional resting places built by locals to accommodate
wayfarers who were travelling to distant places. They were also used as a
place for people to gather, hold meetings and serve as a public place
in society. During the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, Ambalamas were
spread all over the country. The Ambalama located in Sirimalwatta is believed to be built during the Kandyan Period, by a regional chief of King Sri Vikrama Rajasingha [(1798-1815 A.D.) De Silva & Chandrasekara, 2009: Rajapakse, 2016].
The structure is said to be reconstructed around 1936 (De Silva & Chandrasekara, 2009).
The structure is said to be reconstructed around 1936 (De Silva & Chandrasekara, 2009).
Structure
The Ambalama has been renovated several times recently, resulting some old features being invisible. The roof is paved with modern clay tiles and supported by the twelve and four pillars fixed in two concentric tiers. The outer pillars are made of wood and are said to be brought from an Ambalama at Yakgahapitiya (De Silva & Chandrasekara, 2009). Several decorations belonging to the Kandyan period are found carved on the remaining wooden pillars (Rajapakse, 2016).
A protected monument
The Sirimalwaththa Ambalama situated in Grama Niladhari Division, Sirimalwaththa West in the Divisional Secretary’s Division, Kundasale is an archaeological protected monument, declared by a government gazette notification published on 24 March 2016.
References
1) De Silva, N.; Chandrasekara, D.P., 2009. Heritage Buildings of Sri
Lanka. Colombo: The National Trust Sri Lanka, ISBN: 978-955-0093-01-4.
p.170.
2) Rajapakse, S., 2016. Pauranika Sthana Ha Smaraka: Mahanuwara Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka. ISBN:955-9159-34-8. p. 66.
3) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1960. 24 March 2016. p.227.
2) Rajapakse, S., 2016. Pauranika Sthana Ha Smaraka: Mahanuwara Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka. ISBN:955-9159-34-8. p. 66.
3) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1960. 24 March 2016. p.227.
Location Map
This page was last updated on 26 December 2022
