Jubilee Ambalama (Kegalle)

Not to be confused with Jubilee Ambalama (Ruwanwella)

Jubilee Ambalama, Kegalle

The Jubilee Ambalama (Sinhala: කෑගල්ල ජුබිලි අම්බලම) is an old wayside resthouse situated in the middle of Kegalle town, Sri Lanka.

History

Ambalamas are traditional resting places built by locals to accommodate wayfarers who were travelling to distant places. They were also used as a place for people to gather, hold meetings and serve as a public place in society. During the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, Ambalamas were spread all over the country.

The Jubilee Ambalama at Kegalle has been erected in 1887 in parallel to the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria (reigned: 1937-1901). As recorded on two plaques fixed onto the front wall of Ambalama in two languages; English and Sinhala, this house has been erected in 1887 as a monument to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the coronation of the queen. The inscriptions can be read as follows;

Sinhala: "වික්ටෝරියා මහ රාජිනින් සිංහාසනාරූඩ වූ පණස්වෙනි අවුරුදු මංගල්‍යය සිහිවීම පිණිස මේ තානායම ගොඩනගන ලදී 1887"

English: "In commemoration of the fiftieth year of the reign of her majesty Queen Victoria 1887"

A protected monument

The Jubilee Ambalama situated in the centre of the Kegalle Town in the Grama Niladhari Wasama No. 51E, Pahala Golahela of the Dehiowita Divisional Secretary’s Division, is an archaeological protected monument, declared by a government notification published on 22 July 2011.