No. | Shrine | Remarks | References |
1 | Siva Devale No. 1 |
Stone-built shrine. Consists of 4 fanes |
Prematilleke, 1990 |
2 | Siva Devale No. 2 |
Stone-built shrine. Consists of 2 fanes |
Prematilleke, 1990 |
3 | Siva Devale No. 3 |
Stone-built shrine. Consists of 2 fanes |
Prematilleke, 1990 |
4 | Siva Devale No. 4 |
Brick-built shrine. Consists of 3 fanes |
Prematilleke, 1990 |
5 | Siva Devale No. 5 |
Brick-built shrine. Consists of 7 fanes |
Prematilleke, 1990 |
6 | Siva Devale No. 6 |
Brick-built shrine. Consists of 4 fanes |
Prematilleke, 1990 |
7 | Siva Devale No. 7 |
Brick-built shrine. Consists of 2 fanes |
Prematilleke, 1990 |
8 | Siva Devale A |
Meegama, 2010 | |
9 | Siva Devale B |
Meegama, 2010 | |
10 | Siva Devale C |
Meegama, 2010 | |
11 | Visnu Devale No. 1 |
Prematilleke, 1990 | |
12 | Visnu Devale No. 2 |
Stone-built shrine |
Prematilleke, 1990 |
13 | Visnu Devale No. 3 |
Brick-built shrine |
Prematilleke, 1990 |
14 | Visnu Devale No. 4 |
Brick-built shrine |
Prematilleke, 1990 |
15 | Visnu Devale No. 5 |
Brick-built shrine |
Prematilleke, 1990 |
16 | Kali Devale |
Brick-built shrine. Consists of 2 fanes |
Prematilleke, 1990 |
17 | Ganapathi Devale |
Meegama, 2010 |
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.
Sunday, 30 May 2021
Hindu Temples in Ancient Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa Visnu Devale No. 2
Naipena Viharaya

2) Prematilleke, L., 1990. The architecture of the Polonnaruwa Period B.C. 800 - 1200 A.D. [Wijesekara, N. (Editor in chief)]. Archaeological Department centenary (1890-1990): Commemorative series: Volume III: Architecture. Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). p.57.
Friday, 28 May 2021
Lenabatuwa Ambalama

For a complete tourist map follow this link: Lankapradeepa Tourist Map
Parawahera Ambalama

2) Wikramaratne, I., 2015. Pauranika Sthana Saha Smaraka: Matara Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). ISBN: 955-9159-54-2. p.62.
For a complete tourist map follow this link: Lankapradeepa Tourist Map
Telulla Archaeological Site (Hambantota)

2) The government gazette notification. no: 14816. 23 August 1968.
Thursday, 27 May 2021
Mahapali Alms-Hall
The practice to supply meals for the monks from the royal kitchen was begun since the time of King Devanampiyatissa [(247-207 B.C.) Jayasuriya, 2016]. Therefore, Devanampiyatissa is credited with constructing the original Mahapali alms hall adjacent to the royal palace (Nicholas, 1963; Paranavitana, 1936).
Since then, the Mahapali alms hall was maintained, restored or rebuilt by successive kings up to the end of the Anuradhapura Period (Paranavitana, 1936). The Chinese pilgrims Fa-Hien and Hieun Tsiang both refer to the alms hall maintained by the Sinhalese kings within the royal palace (Paranavitana, 1936). As recorded in chronicles, kings such as Khujjanaga (c. 245-247 A.D.), Upatissa I (365-406 A.D.), Mahanaga (406-428 A.D.), Dhatusena (455-473 A.D.) continued the alms-giving tradition from the Mahapalai alms hall (Nicholas, 1963; Paranavitana, 1936). King Aggabodhi I (571-604 A.D.) made a bronze canoe for the Mahapali and King Aggabodhi II (604-614 A.D.) also set up a canoe for the gifts of rice (Paranavitana, 1936). King Silameghavanna (619-628 A.D.) enlarged the Mahapali alms hall but one of his successors, Dathopatissa I (639-650 A.D.) gave the canoes in the alms hall to his Tamil soldiers (Paranavitana, 1936). Other successive kings including Kassapa II (650-659 A.D.), Dathopatissa II (664-673 A.D.), Aggabodhi IV (673-689 A.D.), Mahinda I (738-741 A.D.), Dappula II (815-831 A.D.), Aggabodhi IX (843-846 A.D.), and Udaya II (887-898 A.D.) contributed in the development of the alms hall (Nicholas, 1963; Paranavitana, 1936). King Mahinda IV (956-972 A.D.) re-built the Mahapali alms hall after it was burnt down by the South Indian Cola army who invaded Anuradhapura in the reign of King Udaya III [(935-938 A.D.) Paranavitana, 1936].
Period: 10th century A.D. Script: Medieval Sinhala Language: Medieval SinhalaTranscript: Me Ma[hapela] bat [ga]nna tak denamo a[pa] lada bat [ko]tas bat Dena vehe[ra] dagaba karana ...>>Translation: We, all of us, who receive rations at this Mahapali, have given our shares of rice for the new works being carried on at the Stupa of the Jetavana monastery. Those who violate this shall take [upon themselves] the sins committed by [all] the inhabitants of the land. [They also] shall incur the sins committed by a killer of goats at Mahavutu (Mahatittha: modern Tiruketiswaram near Mannar).Citation: Paranavitana, 1933. pp.132-133.
Temple of the Tooth Relic (Anuradhapura)
Wednesday, 26 May 2021
Miniature Stone Stupa (Ruwanweliseya)
Period: Nissankamalla (1187-1196 A.D.) Script: Medieval Sinhala Language: Medieval Sinhala
Transcript: <<...Anuradhapuraye Ruvanmali-mahase-vahanseta satis-laksayak dhana viyadam-kota puja-karava e pujavata satutu devata(van)......asirbbeda kala tena (ga)l dagabak karava e e tanhi sada-cara sila-lakha karava...>>
Translation: He spent thirty-six lakhs on making an offerings to the Ruvanmali-maha-se in Anuradhapura, and at the spot where the Devas (gods) who were delighted with this offering uttered words of benediction, he caused a stone Dagoba to be raised.
Citation: Wickremasinghe, 1928. pp.112,119.
2) Wikramagamage, C., 2004. Heritage of Rajarata: Major natural, cultural, and historic sites. Colombo. Central Bank of Sri Lanka. pp.67-68.
Rakkhiththa Kanda Viharaya
Tuesday, 25 May 2021
Berendi Kovil
2) Bell, H.C.P., 1904. Report on the Kegalle District of the Province of Sabaragamuwa. Archaeological Survey of Ceylon: XIX-1892. Government Press, Sri Lanka. pp.63-65.
3) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1486. 23 February 2007. p.128.
Nakha Vehera
Sandagiri Stupa (Tissamaharama)
3) Nicholas, C. W., 1963. Historical topography of ancient and medieval Ceylon. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series (Vol VI). Special Number: Colombo. Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch). p.61.
4) Paranavitana, S., 1983. Inscriptions of Ceylon, Late Brahmi Inscriptions, 2 (part 1). Archaeological Survey of Sri Lanka. pp.75-77.
Monday, 24 May 2021
Ruwanweliseya
Construction of the Stupa
Destruction & restorations
The Stupa was fallen into decay after the Cola conquest of Anuradhapura in 993 A.D. (Nicholas, 1963). It was restored to its original glory again during the Polonnaruwa Period by King Parakramabahu I (1153-1186 A.D.) [(Culavamsa, Chap: 78: vv.96-98) Geiger, 1998 (II); Jayasuriya, 2016; Nicholas, 1963; Wikramagamage, 2004]. King Nissankamalla (1187-1196 A.D.) carried out repairs and erected a Stone Replica of the Stupa on the terrace (Hettiaratchi, 1991; Jayasuriya, 2016; Nicholas, 1963; Wickremasinghe, 1928).
By the turn of the 19th century, most of the ancient Stupas in the country were in a state of ruins. The Ruwanweliseya Stupa also had turned into a mound of earth at that time. The Buddhist monk Ven. Naranvita Sumanasara Thera initiated the most recent restoration works of Ruwanweliseya and they were completed by the Swarnamali Stupa Development Society in 1940 (Jayasuriya, 2016; Wikramagamage, 2004).
2) Geiger, W., 1986. The Mahāvaṃsa, or, The Great Chronicle of Ceylon. Asian Educational Services, New Delhi. pp.101,109,187-227,228-231,240-243,246,257,261.
3) Geiger, W., 1998 (I). The Culavamsa: Being the more recent part of the Mahavamsa. Part: I. Asian Educational Services, New Delhi. pp.28,34,37,61,69,78.
4) Geiger, W., 1998 (II). The Culavamsa: Being the more recent part of the Mahavamsa. Part: II. Asian Educational Services, New Delhi. pp.113-114.
5) Hettiaratchi, 1991. Inscriptions on the stone pavement Ruvanveliseya, Anuradhapura (In Sinhala). Epigraphia Zeylanica being lithic and other inscription of Ceylon: Vol. VI, Part 2. Archaeological Survey of Ceylon. Sri Lanka. pp.161-166.
6) Jayasuriya, E., 2016. A guide to the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka. Central Cultural Fund. ISBN: 978-955-613-312-7. pp.48-51.
7) Nicholas, C. W., 1963. Historical topography of ancient and medieval Ceylon. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series (Vol VI). Special Number: Colombo. Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch). pp.134-136.
8) Paranavitana, S., 1933. (Edited and translated by Wikramasinghe, D.M.D.Z.; Codrington, H.W.) Ruvaveliseya pillar inscription of the reign of Buddhadasa Epigraphia Zeylanica: Being Lithic and Other Inscriptions of Ceylon : Vol. III. Printed at the Department of Government Printing, Sri Lanka (Ceylon) for the Archeological Department. pp.71-100.
9) Paranavitana, S., 1970. Inscription of Ceylon (Vol. I). Department of Archaeology Ceylon. p.8.
10) Paranavitana, S., 1983. Inscriptions of Ceylon: Vol. II. Part I. Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka. pp.86-87.
11) Paranavitana, S., 2001 (Edited by Dias, M.). Inscriptions of Ceylon: Vol. II. Part II. Archaeological Survey Department, Sri Lanka. pp.127-131,177-178,188-189,221-222.
12) Ranawella, S., 2007. Inscription of Ceylon. Volume VI. Department of Archaeology. ISBN: 978-955-91-59-61-2. pp.224-227.