Wattarama Viharaya, linked to Arhat Maliyadeva, was developed by King Gotabhaya; features Stupas, inscriptions, and is now archaeologically protected.
Wattarama Sri Arahanta Maliyadeva Viharaya Not to be confused with Wattaramtenna Purvarama Viharaya W attarama Sri Arahanta Maliyadeva Raja Maha Viharaya (Sinhala: වට්ටාරම ශ්රී අරහන්ත මලියදේව විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple situated in Wattarama in Kegalle District, Sri Lanka. It has become popular among the devotees as the place where the Arhat Maliyadeva lived. History Arhat Maliyadeva The temple is named " Sri Arahanta Maliyadeva Viharaya " due to its close association with Arhat Maliyadeva who is believed to be the last Arhat of Sri Lanka. It is said that Maliyadeva lived here and attained Arhatship at this shrine (Abeyawardana, 2002; Karunatilake, 2014). King Gotabhaya (253-266 A.D.) is credited with the development of Wattarama Viharaya (Karunatilake, 2014). He founded Peradeni Nuwara, built tanks around it, and thereafter developed Wattarama and donated surrounding villages/lands to the Viharaya under the guidance of Maliyadeva Thera (Karunatilake, 2014). It is also believed that one of the four golden Buddha statues b…
