Balapitiya Purana Viharaya | AmazingLanka.com

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Sri Pushparama Viharaya - Balapitiya — Sri Pushparama Viharaya – Balapitiya licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 by Aleksandrs

The Balapitiya Purana Vihare prayer hall is an architectural mystery, resembling a Christian church with European floral motifs and high arched windows. Historically enigmatic, theories suggest it was an abandoned church or mosque later donated to the temple, now uniquely serving as both a Buddhist sanctuary and a community space.

From the roadside, the building presents the appearance of a church. Its tall arched doors and windows, adorned with distinctly European floral motifs, give it a character that appears incongruous within a temple परिसर. This contrast is particularly striking as the structure stands within Balapitiya Purana Vihare, the headquarters of the Amarapura Nikaya and a chief temple in a strongly Buddhist coastal region.

Function and Identity

Despite its outward resemblance to a church, the building is in fact the Bana Shalawa, or preaching hall, of the temple. The origins of its unusual architectural style remain uncertain.

According to Walagedera Amarawansa, the chief prelate of the temple, two main theories exist regarding its construction. One suggests that the structure was originally built as a Christian church, later abandoned, and subsequently donated to the temple. The other proposes that it may have been constructed as a Muslim mosque and later abandoned.

External Features

Adding to its unusual character, the façade features a prominent molded British insignia and bears a date inscribed as 2414 in the Buddhist calendar.

Interior Characteristics

Internally, the Bana Shalawa closely resembles a disused church, with the notable exception of a large and serene statue of the Buddha positioned prominently within the hall. Two staircases made of ebony wood lead up to this statue. The decorative wall and ceiling paintings surrounding the statue are believed to be part of the original structure, as noted by Ven. Amarawansa Thera.

A narrow wooden balcony runs along the inner walls of the hall, supporting the statue area. At times, young monks use the balcony railings to dry their saffron robes. Above, pigeons enter through the arched windows and perch on the heavy roof beams. On either side of the hall are two narrow verandas with half-height walls, further reinforcing the building’s resemblance to ecclesiastical architecture. Each veranda is connected to the hall by three arched doorways.

Dating and Historical Uncertainty

The structure is believed to date back approximately 130 years. However, no definitive historical records have been found to confirm its origins. Ven. Amarawansa Thera, who has served at the temple for three decades, noted that even a search through the National Archives yielded no information regarding the building’s history.

Local Context and Interpretations

It has been suggested that the building may originally have been intended as a church constructed by missionaries. However, Balapitiya, despite its coastal location, has historically remained a strongly Buddhist town, with a very small Christian presence even today. According to Ven. Amarawansa Thera, the local population has traditionally been resistant and assertive, which may have prevented the building from ever functioning as a church. It is therefore considered likely that the structure, once abandoned, was later donated to the temple.

Present Use

At present, in addition to its religious function, the hall is also used as an indoor badminton court for children in the surrounding area, reflecting its continued integration into community life.

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Travel Directions to Sri Pushparama Viharaya – Balapitiya

This temple is also known as Sri Pushparama Maha Viharaya, Sri Pushparamaya or Nayake Viharaya.

Route from Colombo to Balapitiya Purana Viharaya	Route II from Colombo to Balapitiya Purana Viharaya
Through : Galle Road Distance : 78 km Travel time : 2.5 hours Driving directions : see on google map	Through : Southern Highway Distance : 103 km Travel time : 2 hours Driving directions : see on google map