Lenabatuwa Ambalama

Lenabatuwa Ambalama
Photo credit: Google Street View

The Lenabatuwa Ambalama (Sinhala: ලේනබටුව අම්බලම) is an old wayside rest in the village of Lenabatuwa in Matara District, Sri Lanka. It is located on the wayside of Kamburupitiya-Akuressa Road at the southern edge of Lenabatuwa Wewa.

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 Ambalama at Lenabatuwa is one such building constructed many years ago.

The structure
This rectangular-shaped brick-built building has been plastered with lime mortar. Three sides of the building are fully covered by the walls while the front side is opened to the road. Two small windows have been made on the two sides for ventilation. The walls are about 18 inches in thickness (Abeyawardana, 2004). The roof is covered with calicut clay tiles. 
 
A protected monument
The Lenbatuwa Ambalama situated in the Grama Niladhari Division No. 317C, Lanbatuwa in the Divisional Secretary’s Division, Kamburupitiya is an archaeological protected monument, declared by a government Gazette notification published on 20 March 2017.

References
1) Abeyawardana, H.A.P., 2004. Heritage of Ruhuna: Major natural, cultural and historic sites. Colombo: The Central Bank of Sri Lanka. ISBN: 955-575-073-4. p.64.
2) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka: Extraordinary. No: 2011/7. 22 July 2011. p.4A.

Location Map
This page was last updated on 2 October 2023
Previous Post Next Post