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Buddhism and Sri Lanka
According to Sri Lankan chronicles, Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century B.C. by Arhant Mahinda, during the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa.
Sri Lankan Inscriptions
The earliest trace of epigraphy in South Asia is said to be found in Sri Lanka. A piece of pottery, dated to circa the 4th century B.C. has been discovered from the Anuradhapura citadel.
Architecture of Sri Lanka
The architecture of Sri lanka has a long history and shows diversed forms and styles, mainly infuenced by their religions and traditional beliefs.
Sri Lankan Antiquities
Inherited from the past, Sri Lanka has a large number of antiques with cultural and historical significance which reflects the glory of past era.
Visit Sri Lanka
Located in the northern waters of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is an island blessed with a large number of attractons which has made the country an ideal destination for the tourism.
Saturday, October 31, 2020
Kaudulla Wewa
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Giritale Wewa
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Friday, October 30, 2020
Natha Devalaya, Kandy
God Natha was highly venerated by the people along with other deities such as Visnu, Skanda, and Pattini during the Kandyan Period. Natha is considered as one of the deities of the Mahayana Buddhist pantheon and people believe him as an aspirant Buddha (Abeyawardana, 2004).
The present inscription chiefly is of value in giving us the correct name of the ruler who was on the throne of Kandy in 2085 A.B., as this year, according to tradition, marks the accession of Vikrama Bahu, the founder of that city as the capital. We have already seen that this date in all probability was derived from the record now published, engraved as it is on a temple the foundation of which was attributed to this Vikrama Bahu. A shrine of the god Natha in Senkadagala or Kandy is mentioned in the Sagama inscription of the reign of Bhuvanaika Bahu V. This shrine, if identical in site with the present devale, quite possibly was rebuilt by Vikrama Bahu. The existing building, however, as it stands, cannot be his, for the wall, on which our inscriptions are cut, evidently has been rebuilt, and at least one stone of the second epigraph lost in the process.The parapet wall that surrounds the Natha Devalaya complex is said to have been constructed by the people of the Hathara Korale at the request of King Narendrasingha [(1707-1739 A.D.) Abeyawardana, 2004].
Citation: Codrington, 1934. p.28.
As the presence of several Bodhi-trees, the Natha Devalaya complex is thought to be originally a Buddhist shrine (Abeyawardana, 2004). The Bodhi-tree situated near the Devalaya is believed to be a sapling of Anuradhapura Sri Maha Bodhi-tree brought here by a Brahmin named Sankanda (Abeyawardana, 2004). The ruins of an ancient Bodhighara (a Bodhi-tree shrine) and a fragment of a seated bronze statue of Buddha were also discovered during a recent archaeological excavation done at the site (Jayasuriya, 2016).
Natha Devalaya
Gambara Devalaya
The external walls of this shrine have been decorated with wall paintings of a type typical of the Kandyan Period. However, the painting on the left-side wall has been deliberately defaced by graffiti. A group of sailing ships scratched with a pointed instrument are found among the graffiti (Devendra, 2002). According to the view of Devendra, these represent the European ships possibly belong to the Dutch, and the British (Devendra, 2002). He believes that these graffiti could be a work of the latter part of the 18th century (Devendra, 2002).
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Rangiri Dambulu Uyanwatta Viharaya
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Thursday, October 29, 2020
Dambulla Rock Inscription of Kirti Nissankamalla
Reign : Kirti Sri Nissankamalla (1187 - 1196 A.D.)
Period : 12th century A.D.
Language: Medieval Sinhala
Script : Medieval Sinhala
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Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple
Evidence regarding the prehistoric man has been identified along the western slope of the Dambulla rock where a series of large boulders, terraces, and caves can be seen (Jayasuriya, 2016; State of Conservation Report, 2019). Several prehistoric stone implements have been found during the excavations done on the uppermost terrace of the Dambulla complex (State of Conservation Report, 2019).
The prehistoric period was succeeded by the protohistoric period at some time during the first millennium B.C. The Megalithic Tombs at Ibbankatuwa, a protohistoric burial site located about 3 km to the south-west of Dambulla, contains evidence that revealing probable connections between the burial site and the Dambulla complex during the protohistoric period (Bandaranayake, 1997; Jayasuriya, 2016; State of Conservation Report, 2019).
Early-historical period
Middle-historical period
Modern period
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Sunday, October 25, 2020
Huluganga Falls
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Sri Sugathavanarama Viharaya, Ullalapola
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Saturday, October 24, 2020
Bellanwila Raja Maha Viharaya
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Wildlife Sanctuaries of Sri Lanka
No. | Protected Area | Date of declaration | Extent (ha.) |
1 | Anawilundawa | 11.06.1997 | 1397.0 |
2 | Anuradhapura | 27.05.1938 | 3500.5 |
3 | Bellanwila-Attidiya | 25.07.1990 | 372.0 |
4 | Buddhangala | 01.11.1974 | 1841.3 |
5 | Chundikulam | 25.02.1938 | 11149.1 |
6 | Dahaiyagala | 07.06.2002 | 2685.07 |
7 | Elahera Giritale | 13.01.2000 | 14035.2 |
8 | Elluwila Yaya | 11.09.2003 | 186.0 |
9 | Galoya North Eastern | 12.02.1954 | 12432.0 |
10 | Galoya South East | 12.02.1954 | 15281.0 |
11 | Galway's Land | 27.05.1938 | 56.6 |
12 | Godawaya | 25.05.2006 | 232.0 |
13 | Honduwa Island | 19.11.1973 | 8.5 |
14 | Horagolla | 05.10.1973 | 13.3 |
15 | Kahala Pallekele | 01.07.1989 | 21690.0 |
16 | Kalamatiya | 28.06.1984 | 2525.2 |
17 | Katagamuwa | 27.05.1938 | 1003.6 |
18 | Kataragama | 27.05.1938 | 837.7 |
19 | Kimbulvana Oya | 21.06.1963 | 492.1 |
20 | Kiralakele | 08.09.2003 | 310.0 |
21 | Kirama Oya | 06.10.2004 | 5.0 |
22 | Kokilai | 18.05.1951 | 1995.0 |
23 | Kudasobara (Little Sober Island) | 21.06.1963 | 6.5 |
24 | Kudumbigala, Panama | 20.02.2006 | 6534.0 |
25 | Kurulu Kele, Kegalle | 14.03.1941 | 113.3 |
26 | Lokusobara (Great Sober Island) | 21.06.1963 | 64.7 |
27 | Madampawila | 21.09.2007 | 1217.75 |
28 | Madin Duwa | 06.06.1980 | 0.8 |
29 | Madu Road | 28.06.1968 | 26677.0 |
30 | Maduganga | 17.07.2006 | 2300.0 |
31 | Madunagala | 30.06.1993 | 995.2 |
32 | Mahakanadarawa Wewa | 09.12.1966 | 519.33 |
33 | Maimbulkanda, Nittambuwa | 31.10.1972 | 23.5 |
34 | Mihintale | 27.05.1938 | 999.6 |
35 | Minneriya Giritale | 29.07.1938 | 6693.5 |
36 | Muthurajawela I | 31.10.1996 | 1028.6 |
37 | Muthurajawela II | 31.10.1996 | 256.8 |
38 | Nimalawa | 18.02.1993 | 1065.8 |
39 | Padaviya Wewa | 21.06.1963 | 6475.0 |
40 | Paraputuwa Meheni | 17.08.1988 | 189.6 |
41 | Peak Wilderness | 25.10.1940 | 22379.1 |
42 | Pigeon Island | 18.05.1973 | 97.1 |
43 | Polonnaruwa | 27.05.1938 | 1521.6 |
44 | Rawana Ella | 18.05.1979 | 1932.0 |
45 | Rekawa | 25.05.2006 | 271.0 |
46 | Rock Islets, Ambalangoda | 25.10.1940 | 1.2 |
47 | Rumassala | 03.01.2003 | 170.7 |
48 | Sagamam | 21.06.1963 | 616.4 |
49 | Senanayaka Samudraya | 12.02.1954 | 9324.0 |
50 | Seruwila Allei | 09.10.1970 | 15540.0 |
51 | Sigiriya | 26.01.1990 | 5099.0 |
52 | Sri Jayawardanapura | 09.01.1985 | 449.2 |
53 | Tabbowa | 19.07.2002 | 2193.31 |
54 | Tangamalai | 27.05.1938 | 131.5 |
55 | Telwatte | 25.02.1938 | 1424.5 |
56 | Trincomalee Naval Base | 21.06.1963 | 18130.0 |
57 | Udawattakele | 29.07.1938 | 1041.2 |
58 | Vankellei | 08.09.2008 | 4839.0 |
59 | Vavunikulam | 21.06.1963 | 4856.2 |
60 | Victoria Randenigala Rantembe | 30.01.1987 | 42087.3 |
61 | Weerawila-Tissa | 27.05.1938 | 4164.2 |
62 | Welhilla Katagilla | 18.02.1949 | 134.3 |
63 | Welipara (Bar Reef) | 03.04.1992 | 30669.9 |
64 | Wilmanna | 30.06.2006 | 3340.0 |
65 | Wilpattu North | 25.02.1938 | 632.0 |
66 | Yodha Wewa | 24.09.1954 | 4330.1 |
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Friday, October 23, 2020
Metikotumulla Tempita Viharaya
Metikotumulla Tempita Viharaya
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