Rock Paintings and Engraving Sites in Sri Lanka

Rajagala Rock Paintings
Sri Lanka has a number of rock painting and a few engraving sites scattered over four specific ecozones, viz; (i) semi-arid lowlands; (ii) dry lowlands; (iii) wet lowlands; and (iv) intermediate dry lowlands (Somadeva et al., 2019). Although these sites were not much explored or studied, several scholars such as H.C.P. Bell, C.G. Seligmann, B.Z. Seligmann, G.F.R. Browning, J. Still, F. Lewis, G.F.R. Browning, P.E.P. Deraniyagala, S. Karunaratna, L.A. Aditya, A.T. Rambukwella, B.D. Nandadeva, and R. Somadeva have made valuable efforts to find out and document their historical and archaeological values (Browning, 1919; Seligman et al., 1911; Somadeva et al., 2019; Still, 1910).

The list of rock paintings and engraving sites in Sri Lanka
This is an incomplete list prepared by "Lanka Pradeepa".
 
No. Site Remarks References
1 Alugalge
(Ampara District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures of human, animal (leopard, peacock), lines, and other symbols (wheel)
Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
Somadeva et al., 2019

2 Andiyagala
(Anuradhapura District)
Rock paintings. Includes figures of human and other symbols (sun)
Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
Still, 1910
3 Arangodagala
(Polonnaruwa District)
Rock paintings. Includes figures of human (man, woman), animal (monkey, deer, centipede or leaf), and other symbols (lotus of sun, bow & arrow, flowers) Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
4 Bambaragastalawa
(Ampara District)
Rock paintings. Includes unidentified animal figures
Somadeva et al., 2019
5 Billewa
(Anuradhapura District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures of human, animal (sambur, peacock), and other symbols Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
Still, 1910
6 Bogoda
(Anuradhapura District)

Somadeva et al., 2019
7 Budugala
(Ratnapura District)
Includes the figures of human faces, animal (lion), and other symbols (Swastika, trident)
Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
Somadeva et al., 2019
8 Budunnehela
(Monaragala District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures of human, animal (deer, tusker, elephant), and other symbols (beehives, hungotu, hoop, arrow)
Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
9 Danigala
(Polonnaruwa District)
Rock engravings Sumanarathna et al., 2020
10 Dimbulagala
(Polonnaruwa District)
Includes a figures of human, and other symbols Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
11 Dikgalge
(Ampara District)

Somadeva et al., 2019
12 Dorawakakanda
(Kegalle District)
Rock engravings. Includes the figures of human, animal (elephant and calf), lines, and other symbols
Browning, 1919
13 Gamakandagalge
(Ampara District)
Rock paintings. Figure of a hangout or maludema (a vessel for collecting honey)
Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
Seligman et al., 1911
14 Ganegama
(Monaragala District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures of animal (elephant, crocodile, crawling animal), and Brahmi Scripts
Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
Somadeva et al., 2019
15 Gonagolla
(Ampara District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures of hunter, deer, stag and deer juveniles
Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
Somadeva et al., 2019
16 Hakbelikanda
(Kurunegala District)
Rock engravings. Includes fihures of human, animals (pangolin, deer), various lines
Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
17 Havala Eliya
(Hambantota District)

Somadeva et al., 2019
18 Henanigala
(Ampara District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures of human, animal, and other shapes Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
Somadeva et al., 2019
19 Hingurana
(Ampara District)

Somadeva et al., 2019
20 Hulannuge
(Ampara District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures of human, animal, and other symbols Somadeva et al., 2019
21 Kadurupokuna
(Ampara District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures of animal (elephant, and unidentified) Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
Somadeva et al., 2019
22 Kandegala
(Polonnaruwa District)

Somadeva et al., 2019
23 Kongarayankulam
(Vavuniya District)
Includes the figures of human and animal
Somadeva et al., 2019
24 Kiripokunahela
(Ampara District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures of animal (elephant) Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
Somadeva et al., 2019
25 Komarikalena
(Anuradhapura District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures of human, and animal (elephant, either a sambur doe, jackal or dog) Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
Somadeva et al., 2019
26 Konategodagalge
(Batticaloa District)

Somadeva et al., 2019
27 Kondagalagalge
(Ratnapura District)

Somadeva et al., 2019
28 Kotiyagala
(Ampara District)

Somadeva et al., 2019
29 Kudumbigala
(Ampara District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures of human Somadeva et al., 2019
30 Kurullangala
(Badulla District)
Rock paintings. Includes drawings of animals (mainly birds), hand prints (only left hand), and abstract signs Thantilage et al, 2016
31 Lenama
(Ampara District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures of human, and animal (elephants, pigs, bears, birds) Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
32 Lihiniyagala
(Nuwara Eliya District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures of human, and animals Somadeva et al., 2019
33 Lunuathugalge
(Monaragala District)

Somadeva et al., 2019
34 Mahalenama Eliya
(Ampara District)
Various drawings
Somadeva et al., 2019
35 Malayadikanda
(Ampara District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures of human, animal, and other symbols Somadeva et al., 2019
36 Mandagalage
(Ampara District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures of human, animal (elephant), and other symbols Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
S
omadeva et al., 2019
37 Magul Maha Viharaya
(Hambantota District)
Rock paintings. Hand impressions
Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
38 Minademugalge
(Ampara District)

Somadeva et al., 2019
39 Molagoda
(Kegalle District)

Somadeva et al., 2019
40 Mudunalavagalge
(Monaragala District)

Somadeva et al., 2019
41
Neelagirikanda
(Ampara District)
Rock paintings. Includes figures of animal (deer, tortoise), and other symbols Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
Somadeva et al., 2019
42 Nella
(Monaragala District)
Rock paintings. Includes figures of human, animal (deer), and other symbols (hangotu, beehives)
Somadeva et al., 2019
43 Nevgala
(Monaragala District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures animal (lion/tiger) Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
Somadeva et al., 2019
44 Panama Galge
(Ampara District)
Rock paintings. Includes lines and other symbols Somadeva et al., 2019
45
Pihillegodagalge
(Ampara District)
Rock paintings. Includes figures of human (men, women), animal (leopard, monitor lizard), and other symbols (bow & arrow)
Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
Seligman et al., 1911
46 Piyangala
(Ampara District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures of human (a group), animal (deer), and other geometric shapes
Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
Somadeva et al., 2019
47 Pulukunawa
(Batticaloa District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures of human (two), animal (deer, elephant, dog), and other shapes (hangotu, beehive)
Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
48
Punchikiriammagalge
(Badulla District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures of human, animal (elephant), Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
Seligman et al., 1911
49 Rajagala
(Ampara District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures of human, animal, and other symbols Somadeva et al., 2019
50 Samangala
(Ampara District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures animal (pangolin, a deer, either a jackal or a dog), and other objects (hangotu)
Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
Medhananda, 2003
51
Sangamankanda
(Ampara District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures of human, animal, lines, and other symbols Somadeva et al., 2019
52 Tantirimale
(Anuradhapura District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures of human, animal (birds, bear, child, leopard, iguana), and other symbols (sun, moon)
Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
Still, 1910
53
Thoppigala Narakamulla
(Batticaloa District)

Rock paintings

54
Thelambukemagalge
(Monaragala District)

Somadeva et al., 2019
55 Umagekanda
(Ampara District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures of human, and other symbols Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
Somadeva et al., 2019
56 Urakanda
(Kegalle District)
Rock engravings. Includes triangular shapes, Siripatula
Senanayaka & Rammungoda, 2010
57
Ussagala
(Monaragala District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures of human, animal, and other geometric shapes
Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
Somadeva et al., 2019
58 Valagampura
(Ampara District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures of human, animal (deer, elephant), and other symbols (hangotu, beehive)
Kelum & Wickremasinghe, 2014
Somadeva et al., 2019
59
Vettambugala
(Ampara District)
Rock paintings. Includes the figures of human, animal (elephant, deer), lines, and other symbols Somadeva et al., 2019

References
1) Browning, G. F. R., 1919. Some Rock Drawing at Dorawaka in Kegalla District. Ceylon Antiquary and literary Register, Vol.IV. Part IV. pp.226-227.
2) Kelum, M.A., Wickremasinghe, H., 2014. Action Plan for Conservation & Sustainable Use of Palaeobiodiversity in Sri Lanka. Biodiversity Secretariat, Ministry of Environment & Renewable Energy. pp.68-70.
3) Medhananda, Ven. Ellawala, 2003. Pacheena passa - Uttara passa: Negenahira palata ha uturu palate Sinhala bauddha urumaya (In Sinhala). Dayawansa Jayakody & Company. Colombo. ISBN: 978-955-686-112-9. pp.212-215.
4) Seligman, C.G., Seligman, B.Z., Myers, C.S. and Gunasekara, A.M., 1911. The veddas (Vol. 1). The University Press. pp.318-
5) Senanayaka, J., Rammungoda, U.R., 2010. Petroglyphs of Urakanda - Sri Lanka : A preliminary account. Sirinimal Lakdusinghe Felicitation Volume. pp.247-253.
6) Somadeva, R., Wanninayake, A., Devage, D., Fernando, R., 2019. A review of rock art studies in Sri Lanka. Expression N° 25. ISSN:2499-1341. pp.70-85. 
7) Still, J., 1910. Tantrimalai: Some archæological observations and deductions. The Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland 22, no. 63. pp.73-10.
8) Sumanarathna, A.R., Aouititen, M., Taylor, B., Sameera, G. and Bandara, A., 2020. Fundamental inspection report- relevant to astrotourism, geotourism, and archaeological potentials: Vistas and unique opportunities of Dhanigala circular rock Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. pp.2-50.
9) Thantilage, A.; Dissanayaka, R.A.; Bogahawatta, C.; Vithanage, I.; Senanayaka, J.; Wijesinghe, T.K.; Ekanayaka, E.M.L.S.S., 2016. An account of the recently discovered rock art site at Kurullangala in Ella, Sri Lanka. Laboratory of Cultural Material Analysis Publication Series-4. Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya. pp.1-12.
 
This page was last updated on 24 September 2023
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