Sangamuwa Viharaya | Oldest Peace Treaty Inscription in Sri Lanka

Sangamuwa Viharaya (Sinhala: සංගමුව විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple situated in Meddeketiya village in Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka. The temple is popular due to the rock inscription that records the peace treaty between Gajabahu II and Parakramabahu I in the 12th century A.D. History A number of cave and rock inscriptions dating from the 2nd century B.C. to the 12th century A.D. have been found on the temple premises (Dias, 1991; Nicholas, 1963; Paranavitana, 1970). The Meddeketiya tank (ancient Sangamu Wewa) which is located near the temple is said to have been constructed by King Dhatusena [(455-473 A.D.) Nicholas, 1963]. Two names similar to this site ( Sangamu and Sangamu-kelvala-arama ) have been found among the famous Sigiri graffiti (Nicholas, 1963). A peace treaty between Gajabahu II (reigned: 1132-1153 A.D.) and Parakramabahu I (reigned: 1153-1186 A.D.) is engraved on the rock of this temple (Nicholas, 1963). The peace treaty inscription The Culavamsa (the latter part of Maha…