Yatawaka Apalawatta Ambalama

Apalawatta Ambalama
Photo credit: Google street view

The Yatawaka Apalawatta Ambalama (Sinhala: ඇපලවත්ත අම්බලම) is an old wayside rest situated in Urapola in Gampaha District, 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 structure
The rectangular-shaped Ambalama is relatively small and consists of a single open space surrounded by a short wall. The four-sided roof which is held by nine pillars has been tiled with semi-cylindrical clay tiles (Sinhala Ulu). Out of the nine pillars, four pillars at the corners of the structure are square and the others are cylindrical.

A protected monument
The Yatawaka Ambalama situated in Grama Niladhari Division, Yatawaka in the Divisional Secretary's Division, Aththanagalla is an archaeological protected monument, declared by a government notification published on 30 September 2022.

References
1) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka: Extraordinary. No: 2299/60. 30 September 2022. p.5A.

Location Map
This page was last updated on 10 April 2023
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