Kechchimalai Mosque (Sinhala: කෙච්චිමලේ මුස්ලිම් පල්ලිය; Tamil: கெச்சிமலை பள்ளிவாசல்) is a popular Islamic place of worship situated in Beruwala, Kalutara District, Sri Lanka. It is considered one of the oldest mosques in the country.
Folklore
According to local beliefs, the history of Beruwala Kechchimalai mosque runs back to the 12th century. It is said that a group of elite Muslims including a saint named Sultan Sheik Ashraff who came with his five brothers and a sister landed at Kechchimalai and took residence there. After the death of the saint, his body was buried at Kechchimalai where the present mosque stands. A grave which is said to be the tomb of Saint Sultan Sheik Ashraff Velliullah is still visible at the site.
A Protected Site
The Kechchimalei Mosque building belonging to Paranakade Village situated in Grama Niladhari Division No. 753, Paranakade in the Divisional Secretary’s Division of Beruwala is an archaeological protected monument, declared by a government gazette notification published on 9 March 2016.
See Also
#) Kachchiwatta Mosque
#) Masjid Al Abrar
References
1) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (Extraordinary). No: 1957/18. 9 March 2016. p.4A.
Attribution
1) Ketchimalai Mosque- Beruwala, Sri Lanka by Hafiz Issadeen is licensed under CC BY 2.0
