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, 28 November 2020
Goraka Ella Falls
Sunday, 22 November 2020
Senanayake Samudraya
For a complete tourist map follow this link: Lankapradeepa Tourist Map
Saturday, 21 November 2020
Ritigala
(i) ‘Riti’ may have derived from the Pali word ‘arittha’ (Sanskrit: aristi) which means ‘safety’. The chronicle Mahavamsa mentions this place as ‘arittha pabbatha’ (in the Pali language, ‘pabbatha’ is used to denote ‘a rock or mountain’), and this identification is confirmed by H.C.P. Bell’s discovery of the name ‘arita-gama’ in two of the inscriptions that found in Ritigala premises; one at Kuda-arambadda-hinna and the other at Vevel-tenna (Wickremasinghe, 1912).
(ii) The word ‘arittha’ can also be translated as ‘dreadful’, so, it may give the meaning as ‘the dreadful rock’ (CCF, 1983). The villagers in the neighbourhood of Ritigala believe that this place is infested by Yakkhas [(demons) Wickremasinghe, 1912].
(iii) According to some, this mountain has got its name due to the riti-trees (Antiaris toxicaria) growing upon it (CCF, 1983; Green, 1990).
(iv) ‘Arittha’ may also give the meaning of ‘the long pole’. Thus it can be identified as the rock as steep & erect as a long pole (CCF, 1983).
(v) The name arittha-pabbata may simply be the ‘mountain of Arittha’, named after the prince Maha-Arittha, a nephew of King Devanampiyatissa [(307-267 B.C.) CCF, 1983; Wickremasinghe, 1912]. Arittha was the one appointed by the king to obtain a cutting of the Bodhi tree from the Indian Emperor Asoka (CCF, 1983).
The legendary aspect of Ritigala is first encountered in Ramayanaya, one of the Sanskrit epics of ancient India. The Aristha mountain that is mentioned in Ramayanaya is supposed by some to be the Ritigala mountain in Sri Lanka (CCF, 1983). However, the authenticity of Ramayanaya is controversial, and therefore it is today dismissed as a myth (Goonatilake, 2010).
Yakkhas
All vegetation on Ritigala is believed to be protected by Yakkhas, the guardian spirits of the mountain (CCF, 1983). Yakkhas are thought to have inhabited Sri Lanka before the arrival of Vijaya in the 5th century B.C. and Ritigala is thought to have been one of the main living places of them. The Samantakuta Vannana, a 13th century Pali poem on Sri Pada (Adam’s peak) mountain mentions Ritigala as one of the haunts of aborigines of the country, named Yakkhas at the time of the supposed first visit of Buddha to Sri Lanka (Wickremasinghe, 1912). Some regard the Yakkhas as the forebears of the present Vedda community (CCF, 1983).
King Pandukabhaya
As mentioned in the 'Etymology' section, the Mahavamsa identifies this place as ‘arittha pabbatha’. The earliest reference to this name in the chronicle is found during the time of Prince Pandukabhaya [(reigned: 377-307 B.C.) Nicholas, 1963]. It is said that Pandukabhaya got the support of the inhabitants of Ritigala, the Yakkhas, in the decisive battle against his uncles (CCF, 1983; Wickremasinghe, 1912).
In the 7th century A.D., Prince Jetthatissa, the younger son of King Samghatissa II (c. 611-? A.D.) who was beheaded with his elder son by a usurper to the throne, spent his time at Arittha (Ritigala) mountain to organize an army to attack the usurper and regain the throne (CCF, 1983).
As the presence of the early-Brahmi cave inscriptions, Ritigala can be identified as a site that provided dwellings to the Buddhist monks since the pre-Christian era (Paranavitana, 1970). The Mahavamsa records that King Suratissa (187-177 B.C.) constructed a monastery called Makulaka Vihara (Mangula Viharaya) at the foot of the Ritigala mountain (CCF, 1983; Wikramagamage, 2004; Wickremasinghe, 1912) Also, it is said that by the 1st century B.C., there was a monastery named Arittha Viharaya built by King Lanjatissa [(59-50 B.C.) CCF, 1983; Nicholas, 1963; Wickremasinghe, 1912]. However, the locations of both monasteries are now no longer known (CCF, 1983).
The Culavamsa (the latter part of Mahavamsa) reveals that in the 9th century A.D., King Sena I (833-853 A.D.) constructed a monastery on Ritigala for the Buddhist monks of Pamsukulika fraternity (CCF, 1983; Nicholas, 1963; Wikramagamage, 2004). He had also given to it royal privileges and a great number of keepers for the garden, and servants, and artificers (Wickremasinghe, 1912). An inscription erected by this king in Kivulekada mentions him as King Salamevan, the founder of the Ritigal Monastery (Nicholas, 1963; Paranavitana, 1933).
The site is believed to be alive until its monastery was destroyed by the South Indian Cholas who started to invade the country from the end of the 10th century A.D. (CCF, 1983). From that time onward, the monastic site remained in the jungle silently until it was reported by explorers in the latter half of the 19th century (CCF, 1983).
The ruins of the site were first reported by James Mantell in 1872, and again by D.G. Mantell in 1878 (CCF, 1983). More reports on them came later with a few publications by A.P. Green (1888), and J.B.M. Ridout [(1892) CCF, 1983]. An extensive report on the rock caves, and ruins as well as the inscriptions of Ritigala was published in 1893 by the then Archaeological Commissioner H.C.P. Bell (CCF, 1983).
Transcript : Devanapiya-maharajha Gamini-Tisaha puta Devanapiya-Tisa-ma[harajhaha] lene agata-anagata-cadu-disa-shagasha.
Translation : The cave of the great King Tissa, the Friend of the Gods, son of the great King Gamani Tissa, the Friend of the Gods, [is given] to the Sangha of the four quarters, present and absent.
Notes : The donor of this inscription has been identified as King Lanjatissa (59-50 B.C.) the builder of the Arittha Viharaya at Ritigala. The father mentioned here is King Saddhatissa (77-59 B.C.).
References : CCF, 1983; Paranavitana, 1970.
The ruined Padhanaghara monastery complex
The Ritigala mountain experience different environmental conditions probably due to varying heights, rainfall, temperature, and wind patterns (Wikramagamage, 2004). Although the altitude of Ritigala is comparatively low, the climate at the summit of the mountain is unexpectedly cooler. It receives high rainfall, especially during the north-east monsoon season than any part of the dry zone which surrounds it (CCF, 1983). The mist and cloud that cover the summit, mainly during the southwest monsoon season result in high vapour condensation and therefore keep the earth always wet even at a time when the surrounding plain below is gripped in drought (CCF, 1983).
Ritigala Strict Natural Reserve
The dominant vegetation in Ritigala is dry-mixed evergreen forest (Gunawardene & Wijeyaratne, 2020). However, the vegetation of the area can be divided into several clear altitudinal zones, viz; Disturbed dry-mixed evergreen (below 300 m), Dry-mixed evergreen (300-500 m), Short stature forest [(above 500 m) Gunawardene & Wijeyaratne, 2020]. Studies carried out by Jayasuriya in this reserve in 1980, 1984 revealed more than 400 taxa and among them, about 80 are non-flowering plants (Green, 1990). Out of the 329 flowering plants he recorded, 54 (representing 16.4%) species are endemic to Sri Lanka (Green, 1990).
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2) Ritigala by Teseum is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
3) Ritigala by Marc is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Sunday, 8 November 2020
Konduwatuwana Wewa and Archaeological Ruins
The present reservoir is said to have been constructed under the Pattipola Aru Scheme; now incorporated in the Gal Oya Scheme (Arumugam, 1969). It was restored in 1912 (Arumugam, 1969).
Archaeological ruins
A site with the ruins of an ancient Buddhist monastery is found within the premises of Sri Lanka Army Combat Training School located near the Konduwatuwana reservoir. Ruined buildings with stone pillars, old bricks, Siripatula stones, and inscriptions are found among the ruins (Medhananda, 2003; Vithanachchi, 2013). The circular stone slab containing a mark of Siripatula (Pada-lanchana-gala) is considered a rare artefact (Medhananda, 2003). The diameter of this stone is 2 ft 6 in and the print of Siripatula has been carved in the middle of it (Medhananda, 2003).
There are also some sites around the Konduwatuwana reservoir with archaeological ruins including inscriptions (Vithanachchi, 2013). These ruined sites may or may not have formed a single monastery in ancient times (Nicholas, 1963). Two late-Brahmi inscriptions have been discovered engraved on a boulder in the bed of the Konduwatuwana reservoir (Paranavitana, 2001). Of them, one records the grant of the tank of Hajamatavika to the community of Buddhist monks of Alarama monastery by a minister named Butaya (Paranavitana, 2001). The other inscription which belongs to the 2nd century A.D. states that the three hundred Karisas of the tank Vahabavi belonged to the monastery of Ahali-araba (Dias, 1991; Paranavitana, 2001). According to Paranavitana, the two names Alarama and Ahali-araba both go back most probably to an original form Ahali-arama (Paranavitana, 2001).
Konduwatuwana pillar inscription
A pillar containing a Sinhala inscription dated in the 10the regnal year of King Dappula IV (923-935 A.D.) was discovered near the Konduwatuwana reservoir in 1953 (Nicholas, 1963; Ranawella, 2004). It records certain immunities granted by the king in respect of a village named "Äragama" (present Konduwatuwana) located in the region of "Metera-Digamandulla", the revenue of which were enjoyed at the time by a Senevirad (a Commander-in-Chief) named Dandanayaka Sangva Rakus (Nicholas, 1963; Ranawella, 2004). It also contains certain regulations regarding the revenue and judicial administration of that village (Ranawella, 2004).
Ampara Wewa
For a complete tourist map follow this link: Lankapradeepa Tourist Map
Jaffna Fort
Summary (Wijebandara, 2014)
1617 - Portuguese captured Jaffna and Phillippe de Oliveira became the first Governor.
Excavations in 2011
Chola inscription of Jaffna fort
2) Jaffna Fort (2) by Rehman is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
3) Jaffna Fort - Hangman's Tower by AntanO is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
4) Джафна by Inna67895 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
2) Mandawala, P.B., 2012. Sri Lanka: Defending the military heritage; legal, administrative and financial challenges. Defending the military heritage; legal, financial and administrative issues. Reports from the Seminar 16 – 17 May, 2011, in Karlskrona, Sweden, organised by ICOMOS International Scientific Committee for Legal, Financial and Administrative Issues (ICLAFI) and the Swedish Fortifications Agency of Sweden. p.100.
3) Wijebandara, I.D.M., 2014. Yapanaye Aithihasika Urumaya (In Sinhala). Published by the editor. ISBN-978-955-9159-95-7. pp.38-50.
Saturday, 7 November 2020
Tissamaharama Viharaya
The restoration of the ancient Tissamaharama Stupa was completed in 1898 (Silva, 2007). However, several vertical cracks were noticed on the surface of the dome towards its mid-height in the 1970s (Ranaweera & Silva, 2006; Silva, 2007). In order to halt the spread of these cracks and prevent the collapse of the dome, external pre-stressing was done using circumferential stainless steel cables fixed to the dome (Ranaweera, 2004; Ranaweera & Silva, 2006; Silva, 2007).
Friday, 6 November 2020
Paramakanda Raja Maha Viharaya
A small image house, a Stupa, and two carved footprints of Buddha (Sri Pathula) are found at the upper temple premises. The sculptures in the image house had been destroyed recently by thieves who searched for imaginary treasures inside them.
2) Dias, M., 1991. Epigraphical notes (Nos 1 -18). Colombo: Department of Archaeology. p.72.
3) Paranavitana, S., 1970. Inscriptions of Ceylon: Volume I: Early Brahmi Inscriptions. Department of Archaeology Ceylon. pp.83,100.
4) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 948. 1 November 1996.
5) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1586. 23 January 2009. p.107
Thursday, 5 November 2020
Yala National Park
The park consists of five blocks (Blocks I, II, III, IV, V). However, the area known as Yala comprises a contiguous system of nine national reserves including the aforesaid five blocks, Kumana National Park (Yala East), Strict Natural Reserve, and the adjoining Kataragama-Katagamuwa and Kudimbigala Sanctuaries (Buultjens et al., 2005; Jazeel, 2005). The entire area, except the southeastern part, is bounded by a wide buffer zone marked on the land. The southeastern part of Yala is margined by the Indian Ocean.
Yala is partly open to tourists. Block I (also known as Ruhuna National Park or Yala West) with an area of 140 square km is one such part (Buultjens et al., 2005; Katugaha, 1999). It has an extensive network of motorable roads made for tourists.
The park is rich with a large number of archaeological sites and some of them are Buddhist ruins belonging to the period of the Rohana principality. More than 50 inscriptions, most of which date from the 2nd or 1st century B.C., have been found in the area (Abeyawardana, 2004). About 40 archaeological sites discovered within the Yala premises are listed below (Abeyawardana, 2004);
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1) Bambawa
2) Magul Maha Viharaya
3) Seelawakanda
4) Sithulpawwa
5) Akasa Chethiya
6) Pimbyramakanda
7) Gonagala
8) Modaragala
9) Padikema & Patanangala
10) Patanangala
11) Anduneruwa
12) Brakmanatota
13) Katupila
14) Katupilamankada
15) Pilinnawa
16) Uda pothana
17) Ruins of Dagoba
18) Minihagalkanda
19) Pilimagala
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20) Maha pilimagala
21) Kiriwadumahela
22) Thalaguruhela
23) Lunuathugalge
24) Mayagala (Wadambuwa)
25) Dagoba & stone column
26) Goyankola Mayagala
27) Dikkandanegala
28) Veeragala
29) Athurumituruwewa
30) Dematagala
31) Mandagala
32) Mandagala Wewa
33) Kottadamuhela
34) Bambaragastalawa
35) Kiripokunahela
36) Bowattagala
37) Nelumpathpokuna
38) Kongala
Modern history
The presence of LTTE in the national park during the Sri Lankan civil war (1983-2009) transformed some parts of the park into unprotected jungles for visitors (Buultjens et al., 2005; Jazeel, 2005). The coastline of Yala was badly hit by the 2004 Tsunami waves (Fernando et al., 2006).
2) A watchful leopard by Sachinkaveeshafernando is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
3) Scenery in Yala National Park by Schnobby is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
3) De Silva, M., Dissanayake, S. and Santiapillai, C., 1994. Aspects of the population dynamics of the wild Asiatic water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in Ruhuna National Park, Sri Lanka. Journal of South Asian Natural History, 1(1), pp.65-76.
4) Fernando, P., Wikramanayake, E.D. and Pastorini, J., 2006. Impact of tsunami on terrestrial ecosystems of Yala National Park, Sri Lanka. Current Science, pp.1531-1534.
5) Jazeel, T., 2005. ‘Nature’, nationhood and the poetics of meaning in Ruhuna (Yala) National Park, Sri Lanka. cultural geographies, 12(2), pp.199-227.
6) Katugaha, H.I.E., de Silva, M. and Santiapillai, C., 1999. A long-term study on the dynamics of the elephant (Elephas maximus) population in Ruhuna National Park, Sri Lanka. Biological Conservation, 89(1), pp.51-59.
Wednesday, 4 November 2020
Ati Konanayakar Temple, Thambalagamuwa
Some years later, King Rajasinha II (1635-1687 A.D.) erected a proper shrine at Thambalagamuwa to house the deities taken from Koneswaram and called the new shrine the "Konanayakar Temple" (Arumugam, 1991).
2) Navaratnam, C.S., 1998. Koneswaram: A temple of a thousand columns. North-East Sri Lanka- A compendium: 50th anniversary of Sri Lanka's independence 1948-1998. North-East Provincial Council. pp.159-171.
For a complete tourist map follow this link: Lankapradeepa Tourist Map
Tuesday, 3 November 2020
Kuttam Pokuna
2) Kuttam Pokuna 06 by Cherubino is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
3) Sri Lanka Photo022 by Psychoslave is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
4) SL Anuradhapura asv2020-01 img29 Kuttam Pokuna by A.Savin is under the Free Art License 1.3
Kaudulla National Park
2) Mahesha, P. and Rajnish, V., 2020. Some aspects of seed dispersal by Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in Kaudulla National Park, Sri Lanka. Current Science (00113891), 118(4) .pp.648-654.
3) Pastorini, J., Pilapitiya, S. and Fernando, P., 2020. Wild Asian Elephant Twins in Sri Lanka. Gajah, 52, pp.48-50.