Urumuththa Cave (Matara)

Urumuththa Cave (Matara)

. Urumuththa Cave (Sinhala: ඌරුමුත්ත ලෙන) is a Prehistoric Cave Site and a Devalaya Shrine situated in Urumutta village in Matara District, Sri Lanka. The shrine has been dedicated to God Rajjuru Bandara, a local deity worshipped in the region (Wikramaratne, 2015). The cave was first reported in 1912 by Frederick Lewis who researched the site and discovered some artefacts of the prehistoric period (Lewis, 1912). An Early Brahmi Inscription engraved on the wall of the cave indicates that it had been donated to the usage of Buddhist monks in the beginning of the Christian era. Urumuththa early Brahmi inscription Period:  3rd century B.C. - 1st century A.D.                     Script: Early Brahmi Language:  Old Sinhala Transcript:  (1) ha lene (2) Parumaka Naga Translation: The cave of chief Naga Reference:  Wikramaratne, 2015. p.4. The cave, in section, taken vertically, is shaped like the letter F (Lewis, 1912). The wall or back of the F is nearly vertical for 20 ft. and the roof is nearly horizontal …