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;
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
