Weli Maluwa (Andiyamala Thenna) on Sri Pada Trail

RATE THIS LOCATION : 1 Star

(10 votes, average: 3.50 out of 5)

Weli Maluwa (Andiyamala Thenna) on Sri Pada Trail

The Ambagamuwa Inscription of King Vijayabahu I

An important inscription at Sri Pada, known as the Ambagamuwa Inscription, was commissioned in the 36th year of King Vijayabahu I’s reign (1070–1110 CE). Engraved on two large rocks—one measuring 12 feet 3 inches by 9 feet 3 inches and the other 9 feet 4 inches by 9 feet 7 inches—this inscription provides valuable insights into the political and religious landscape of the time.

The text records the defeat of Tamil invaders by King Vijayabahu I and his success in unifying the island under one rule. It also details the king’s acts of generosity toward the people and the donations and facilities he provided to the Sri Pada pilgrims and the sacred site itself.

A Terrace for the Marginalized

A notable segment of the inscription mentions that the king constructed a terrace below the sacred footprint at the summit of Sri Pada. This terrace was specifically intended to allow lower-caste individuals, who were forbidden from entering the upper terrace, to worship the sacred footprint from a designated distance.

Ven. Gnanawimala Thero, writing in 1942, observed that even in his time, people of the Sadol caste (a marginalized community) would halt at a place known as Ehela Kanuwa. From there, they would send their offerings up and venerate the sacred footprint without ascending to the summit. They were only allowed to reach the top during a very limited window at the start of the off-season. This practice is believed to reflect an ancient custom rooted in caste-based restrictions.

The Site of Weli Maluwa / Andiyamala Thenna

Approximately 600 meters below the peak of Sri Pada lies a location known today as Andiyamala Thenna, where an Ambalama (resting place) stands. According to tradition, this site is also known as Weli Maluwa, or “Sand Terrace”, from which the summit of Sri Pada is clearly visible.

Historical sources, including Rathanapala (2016), note that during the reign of King Seethawaka Rajasinghe (1581–1591)—after he killed his father and converted to Hinduism—the custodianship of Sri Pada was transferred to Hindu ascetics known as Aandi (ආඬි) or Sannasi. These Hindu priests controlled the site for around 155 years, until King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe (1747–1781) reclaimed it and restored it to Buddhist monastic custodianship. The name Andiyamala Thenna is believed to have originated where one of these chief Aandi passed away.

Given the visibility of the summit from this terrace and its accessibility to those denied entry to the top, Gnanawimala Thero notes that Andiyamala Thenna (Weli Maluwa) is likely the terrace mentioned in the Ambagamuwa Inscription, built by King Vijayabahu I to enable worship by lower-caste devotees.

References

Gnanawimala, K. (1942) සපරගමූවේ පැරණි ලියවිලි . Colombo, Sri Lanka: Kirielle J. M. Samarakoon Bandara.
Rathanapala, K. (2016) ශ්‍රී පාදස්ථානයේ වතගොත . Yakkala, Sri Lanka: Karametiye Rathanapala thero (self-publication).

Also See

Map of Weli Maluwa (Andiyamala Thenna) on Sri Pada Trail

Click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map

Show Location on Google Maps

The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites

Zoom out the map to see more surrounding locations using the mouse scroll wheel or map controls.