Kiribath Vehera

Although the builder of this monastery is not known, it is assumed to be a work of the early Anuradhapura Period. A 10th-century pillar inscription of the Atthani type (immunity grant inscription) that was unearthed from the site revealed that the land named Uturmegiriwatta had been granted to a dispensary at Bamunkumbara (Wikramagamage, 2004; Wickremasinghe, 1912). Based on this, scholars such as Senarat Paranavirana tended to believe that this could be the site of the ancient Uttara Meghagiri Viharaya (Wikramagamage, 2004).

This inscription was discovered in 1891 by the then Archaeological Commissioner H.C.P. Bell (Wickremasinghe, 1912). It is dated in the 14th year of a king-styled Siri Sangbo who, according to scholars, is non-other than King Kassapa IV [(898-914 A.D.) Nicholas, 1963; Wickremasinghe, 1912]. It records that the land called Uturmegiriwatta that was granted to the dispensary at Bamunkumbara should be bounded on the east by Veher-watta, on the south by the Mi tree, on the west by the cart road, and on the north by the Sambada jungle (Nicholas, 1963; Wickremasinghe, 1912).

 

The remains of a dilapidated Stupa, an image house of the Anuradhapura era, and a ruined Buddha statue of about 12 ft. in height have been found at the site. The image house of this site is very much similar to the Image House at Jetavanarama (Wikramagamage, 2004).

 

1) Nicholas, C. W., 1963. Historical topography of ancient and medieval Ceylon. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series (Vol VI). Special Number: Colombo. Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch). p.159.

2) Wikramagamage, C., 2004. Heritage of Rajarata: Major natural, cultural, and historic sites. Colombo. Central Bank of Sri Lanka. p.113.

3) Wickremasinghe, D.M.D.Z., 1912. Epigraphia Zeylanica: Being lithic and other inscription of Ceylon, Vol. I. London. Archaeological Survey of Ceylon. pp.153-161.