Godamunna Ambalama

Godamunna Ambalama

Godamunna Ambalama (Photo credit: Google Street View) Godamunna Ambalama (Sinhala: ගොඩමුන්න අම්බලම) is an old wayside rest situated in Godamunna village in Kandy District, Sri Lanka. The Godamunna Elle Oya Ambalama  built in 1930 is located near this Ambalama. 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 Godamunna is believed to have been constructed during the Kandyan Period (Rajapakse, 2016). The wooden pillars of the Hanguranketha Palace that were destroyed by fire during the Dutch attack in the 17th century are said to have been used for the construction of the Ambalama (Abeyawardana, 2004; Dasanayaka, 2018; Seneviratna, 1983). Folklore reveals that the Tooth Relic of the Buddha was kept at this…