Mathula Alu Lena Viharaya

Mathula Alu Lena Viharaya (Sinhala: මාතුල අළු ලෙන විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple situated in Attanagoda Village in Ratnapura District, Sri Lanka. History A  Prehistoric  site Archaeological excavations carried out on the temple premises have yielded stone implements used by man over 15,000 years ago (Abeyawardana, 2002). The Buddhist monastery As is evidenced by the Early Brahmi Inscription engraved just below the drip-ledge of the cave of this temple, this site has been used as an abode of Buddhist monks since the pre-Christian era. Period:  3rd Century B.C.-1st century A.D.                       Script: Early Brahmi Language:  Old Sinhala Transcript:  (1)  Parumaka Ijhu putha parumaka Agiya lene  (2)  shagasha Translation:  (1) The cave of Chief Aggi, son of Chief Ijhu (2) (is given) to Sangha. Citation:  Paranavitana, 1970. p.61. The cave measures 55 ft. by 25 ft. and it presently houses several sculptures and paintings of the Kandyan Period (Abeyawardana, 2002). Although the locals believe that the writi…