Sangharaja Cave
. Sangharaja Lena (Sinhala: සංඝරාජ ලෙන) is a small cave located near the Ihalakotte Railway Station in Kagalle District, Sri Lanka. Its history is related to the erudite Buddhist monk Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thera (1698-1778 A.D.) who is considered the pioneer of the revival of Buddhism on the island in the 18th century. He was also the last Sangharaja of Sri Lanka. Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thera was instrumental in re-establishing the Upasampada (higher ordination) in the country in 1753 with the support of King Kirti Sri Rajasingha (1747-1782 A.D.) of Kandy after the religion declined in the 17th and 18th centuries. He was born in Kudugalahena in Weliwita Ihalagama village (read article: Weliwita Sanghikaramaya ) and in the latter part of his childhood, he entered the Buddhist order as a Samanera (novice monk) at the Suriyagoda Raja Maha Viharaya in Kandy by the name Weliwita Saranankara (Abeyawardana, 2004). His mentor, Suriyagoda Rajaguru Thera exercised considerable influence withi…
