Not to be confused with Kegalle Jubilee Ambalama
Ruwanwella Jubilee Ambalama (Photo credit: Google Street View)
Ruwanwella Jubilee Ambalama (Sinhala: රුවන්වැල්ල ජුබිලි අම්බලම) is an old wayside resthouse situated in the Ruwanwella area in Kegalle 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.
As recorded on the plaque that is fixed onto one of the walls, this Ambalama has been erected at the beginning of the 20th century in commemoration of Lily Harriet Davidson, the wife of the Assistant Agent of Kegalle District from 1892 to 1896. The plaque can be read as follows;
English: "This Ambalam is erected by her friends to the memory of Lily Harriet Davidson, wife of the Assistant Govt Agent of this District, 1892-1896 as a tribute to one who was for twenty years a true friend to the people of Ceylon of every race, caste and creed. She died at Pretoria South Africa 1901."
A protected monument
The Jubilee Ambalama situated in Ruwanwella in the Divisional Secretary’s Division of Ruwanwella, is an archaeological protected monument, declared by a government notification published on 22 November 2002.
References
1) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1264. 22 November 2002.
Location Map
This page was last updated on 17 June 2023
