Heenatipana Ambalama

The Heenatipana Ambalama (also known as Mawanella Molligoda Pinkumbura Ambalama) is an old wayside rest situated in Mawanella Molligoda village in Kagalle 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. An inscription inscribed on one of the pillars of this building contain details about the construction of this Ambalama and it can be read as follows;

Text: ශ්‍රී බු.ව. 2490, මෙය හීනටිපන යූ. බී. හඳකුඹුරේ විසින් කරවා 25.4.47 වැනි දින නිමවන ලදී.

Translation: Sri Buddhist Year 2490 (1947 A.D.), This, made by U.B. Handakumbure, was completed on 25.4.47.

The structure

Located at the edge of a paddy field, Hennatipana Ambalama has been built on a stone base of about 2.5 ft. high. Large well-cut blocks of stone have been used for the base. Four stone pillars at the corners of the base support the pitched roof covered with flat-clay tiles (De Silva & Chandrasekara, 2009). The upper and lower parts of the pillars are square and the middle part is octagonal in shape. The capitals of them are made of wood decorated with Pekada carvings.

 

References

1) De Silva, N.; Chandrasekara, D.P., 2009. Heritage Buildings of Sri Lanka. Colombo: The National Trust Sri Lanka, ISBN: 978-955-0093-01-4. p.160.

Location Map

This page was last updated on 2 January 2022
For a complete tourist map follow this link: Lankapradeepa Tourist Map