Etampitiya Ambalama (Photo credit: Google Street View)
The Etampitiya Ambalama (Sinhala: ඇටම්පිටිය අම්බලම) is an old wayside rest in Ettampitiya village in Badulla 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 constructed all over the country. The Ambalama at Etampitiya is believed to be one such structure built many years ago.
The structure
This rectangular-shaped brick-built building has been plastered with lime mortar. It is about 10 ft. in height and 15 ft. 6 inches in width (Dasanayaka, 2018). Three sides of the building are fully covered by the walls while the front side is by a half wall. The roof is covered with Sinhala Ulu (semi-cylindrical clay tiles). Presently, this Ambalama is used as a bus stop.
A protected monument
The Etampitiya Ambalama in Ettampitiya village in the Divisional Secretariat's Division of Hali-Ela is an archaeological protected monument, declared by a government gazette notification published on 8 July 2005.
References
1) Dasanayaka, R., 2018. Ambalama saha samajaya (In Sinhala). S. Godage & Brothers. p.120.
2) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1401. 8 July 2005.
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This page was last updated on 11 June 2023
