Vilayaya Tempita Viharaya (Matara) Vilayaya Tempita Viharaya (Sinhala: විලයාය ටැම්පිට විහාරය) Wilayaya is a Buddhist temple situated in Dampahala village in Matara District, Sri Lanka. History The Tempita Viharaya of this temple is believed to have been constructed in the mid-18th century (Silva & Chandrasekara, 2021). Tempita Viharaya Tempita Viharas were popular in many Buddhist temples during the Kandyan Period . These structures were usually built on a wooden platform resting on bare stone pillars or stumps which are about 1-4 feet tall. The roof is generally made of timber and held by wooden stumps. The walls are usually made of wattle and daub and form the main enclosed shrine room containing Buddhist sculptures and murals in the Kandyan style. Some Tempita Viharas have narrow verandas and ambulatories circulating the main enclosed space. The construction of these buildings started in the 17th century and lasted until the end of the 19th century (Wijayawardhana, 2010). Vilayaya Tempita Viharaya The square-shaped Temp…
