Seruwila Mangala Viharaya, founded in the 2nd century BCE by King Kavantissa, enshrines Buddha's relics. It's a major Buddhist pilgrimage site.
Seruwila Mangala Raja Maha Viharaya Seruwila Mangala Raja Maha Viharaya , also known as Seruwawila Viharaya (Sinhala: සේරුවිල මංගල රජමහා විහාරය), is a Buddhist temple situated in Seruwawila in Trincomalee District, Sri Lanka. It remains on the Tentative List of World Heritage Sites (UNESCO) since 2006. History In about the 2nd century B.C., there was a provincial kingdom named Seru in Seruwawila. According to chronicles such as Dhatuvamsa, Prince Kavantissa of Ruhuna (205-161 B.C.) built a Stupa named Mangala Maha-cetiya there, by enshrining the frontal bone of the Buddha. The Stupa at the present Seruwila Viharaya is identified as the ancient Mangala Maha-cetiya (also known as Tissamaha-vehera) built by Kavantissa (Ranawella, 2005). However, the 10th-century "Seruwila rock inscription of Sirisangabo" which was discovered from the temple premises has referred to the monastery at the site as Kuratis Mahavehera (Ranawella, 2005). This epigraphical evidence, therefore, has raised some doubt regarding the true ident…
