Kirioruwa Ambalama

Kirioruwa Ambalama (Sinhala: කිරිඔරුව අම්බලම) is an old wayside rest situated in Kirioruwa in Badulla District, Sri Lanka. 

Ambalama
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.  

The Ambalama at Kirioruwa is one such place that is believed to have existed since the medieval period. It was part of the ancient transport system in Uva.

The structure
The square-shaped Ketawala Ambalama is relatively small and consists of a single open space. The four-sided roof which is held by four pillars at the corners has been tiled with semi-cylindrical clay tiles (Sinhala Ulu).

A protected monument
The Kirioruwa resting place (Ambalama) situated in the Village of Amunudowa in the Divisional Secretary’s Division of Bandarawela is an archaeological protected monument, declared by a government notification published on 23 January 2009.

References
1) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1586. 23 January 2009. p.105.

Location Map
This page was last updated on 20 October 2022
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