Ganewewa Asanagharaya in Kurunegala is an ancient Buddhist shrine linked to Arhat Maliyadeva, with ruins dating back to the early Anuradhapura Period.
Ganewewa Asanagharaya G anewewa Asanagharaya (Sinhala: ගනේවැව ආසනඝරය) is one of the Asanaghara Shrines found in Sri Lanka. It is situated on the Ganewewa Purana Viharaya premises located north of Deduru Oya River and west of the Nikaweratiya town in Kurunegala District. History Ganewewa Purana Vharaya is the Buddhist temple where the ruins of the Asanaghara were discovered and it is surrounded by several traditional Sinhalese villages such as Ratmalawetiya, Divullegoda, Konettegama, Godayaya and Nabadewa (Pagngnawamsa, 2016). Although the temple is presently called Ganewewa, its old name is said to be Ganayawa Purana Viharaya (Pagngnawamsa, 2016). Locals link the history of this temple to Maliyadeva Thera who is considered the last Arhat of Sri Lanka (Pagngnawamsa, 2016). They believe that Arhat Maliyadeva visited this temple time to time from Katagamu Viharaya located near Deduru Oya River. The ancient text Kadaim-Pota lists several ferry ports along the Deduru Oya River and one of them is the Kasawan-thota (…
