Arisimale Rajamaha Viharaya | AmazingLanka.com

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Path to Asirimale Beach as well as the Asririmale Viharaya

Arisimale is a coastal site near Trincomalee famous for unique sand resembling rice grains. Traditionally believed to be the landing site for the Buddha’s hair relic, the nearby Arisimale Raja Maha Viharaya remains a prominent archaeological and post-war heritage area.

Arisimale is a small coastal village located approximately 50 km (31.1 miles) north of Trincomalee, in Pulmude. In Tamil, “arisi” means “rice” and “malai” means “hill,” giving the name the meaning “Hill of Rice.” This designation is derived from the distinctive sand found along Arisimale Beach, where the grains are unusually large and closely resemble the size and shape of rice grains.

Historical and Religious Associations

According to tradition, Thapassu and Balluka, two merchants who are said to have received a lock of hair from the Buddha, landed at Arisimale Beach. From there, they are believed to have traveled to Tiriyaya, where the relic was enshrined.

Owing to this association, the region has yielded numerous archaeological artifacts over time. In the early 1980s, the Arisimale Raja Maha Viharaya, situated near the beach, was granted approximately 202.3 hectares (500 acres) of surrounding land by Cyril Mathew, the then minister of industries. A small Buddhist farming community subsequently developed around the temple.

Conflict and Displacement

During the period of conflict, the area came under the control of the LTTE. As a result, the resident community was either displaced or killed, and the resident monk relocated to a safer area.

Post-War Developments and Disputes

By the end of the conflict, the area had undergone significant demographic changes, with the emergence of a Muslim settlement. As observed in several eastern archaeological regions, concerns have been raised regarding encroachment onto historically significant lands without due regard for their heritage value.

Following the war, the Sri Lanka Navy undertook the reconstruction of the damaged temple. However, during the subsequent demarcation of land, sections of the Muslim community in the Pulmude area strongly opposed the move. R. M. Anwar, a member of the Eastern Provincial Council, advocated for the redistribution of the 202.3 hectares (500 acres) originally granted to the temple among the local Muslim residents.

This dispute was reported in Sunday Leader in 2014,

… Chief incumbent of the Arisimale temple Ven. Panamure Thilakawansa Thera told the Sunday Leader that the site has important historical and archaeological value. According to the thera and some Buddhist beliefs, Tapassu and Bhalluka traders carrying a lock of Lord Buddha’s hair had entered the country through the Arisimale port and deposited the sacred relic of Lord Buddha in Girigaduseya stupa in Thiriyaya.

The Thera added that there are so many ancient ruins belonging to the early Anuradhapura era that scattered around this area and we have made requests to relevant authorities to get the land back to the temple – however surveys are not yet being done to demarcate the land that belongs to the temple. He added that the extent of land belongs to the temple could be either 500 acres or 1000 acres but that is to be decided after locating all the ruins scattered across the land after a proper survey.

According to the Thera, his chief monk at the time Ven. Dodanduwe Kassapa Thera had come to reside in that area in 1977 and Sinhala community lived around the area during that time.

“In early 1980’s when late Cyril Mathew was the minister of Industry, he developed 100 temples in North and East and the Arisimale temple came under that development project.” He added that due to the conflict, they had to move to the South and he was travelling back and forth to see the temple till the conflict ended. He added, “My chief monk handed over the temple to me with proper legal documents.

The building complex of the temple was damaged during the war and it is now being repaired by the Navy.” He also said that the ancient ruins in the area prove that the inhabitants of the area were a Buddhist community since ancient times. According to the sources, Cyril Mathew had plans to allocate 500 acres of land to the temple and to call it a sacred town.

However, according to the residents of the area, when they moved in during the late 1980’s there was hardly any sign of a temple. There have been around 80 families who lived and engaged in agricultural activities in the area even during the conflict, residents claimed. According to the residents, the Muslim community in the area has been living there for nearly 30 years with land permits produced by the Divisional Secretariat – when the area was affected by the tsunami, under the North Eastern Housing Development Project (NEHD) houses were built for the permit holders to the land.

A female Muslim resident of Arisimale added, “My family came to live in Arisimale area in 1989. When there were conflicts in the area, we were moving back and forth to Pulpuddai town. Often during the day time we came to look after and tend the land in Arisimale and at night we stayed in Pulpuddai with friends or relatives.”

Another resident added, “These areas were affected by the tsunami and under the NEHD project they built us houses.” However, he noted that four houses built under the NEHD project are now inside the 100 acres which is already acquired by the temple with the support of the Sri Lankan Navy. Residents complained that those families who have been removed from the 100 acres taken by the temple are not yet being resettled.

According to the residents, the Chief Incumbent of Arisimale temple has claimed 500 acres of land in total as the property of the temple and residents were asked to vacate when required.

According to Navy Spokesman Kosala Warnakulasooriya, the Sri Lankan Navy has only requested the government to demarcate certain areas in Arisimale close to the northern boundary of the harbour to be given to the Navy. He added, “We have only made a request. Besides the land we requested is state land and do not belong to any private party. ”

He added that it is important for the Navy to have the coastal stripe close to the Trincomalee harbour as it is crucial to strengthen the naval power and security of the country. He said that if anyone is making wrong complaints saying that the Navy has acquired any land illegally they can go to court as the Navy has followed the correct procedures.

Mr. Thilakawardena of the Department of Archeology added that the Department of Archeology has located ancient ruins dating back to the early Anuradhapura era in the surrounding area of the Arisimale temple and they have listed the ruins.

Accordingly, in a gazette issued in 2013 August 16 under no 1823/73, those ruins were identified and taken under the Department of Archeology to be preserved. However, according to Thilakawardena, the area was not claimed as an archeological site. When he directed the Sunday Leader to an officer who had worked in the Arisimale site, he added that the Department of Archaeology has put their demarcations in the identified area which spreads up to at least 800 acres.

He added that they have avoided the existing houses – besides the site does not spread up to the residential area and it is only along the coast and includes a jungle area. He said, “We have marked that area as a property of the temple. However the legal survey has not yet been done. We have only identified the area with ancient ruins but the legal survey has to be done by the Survey Department.”

According to Survey General Nihal Gunawardena, the Department of Survey accepts contracts upon requests made by government organizations. He added, “Sometimes back there was a request from the Kuchchaweli Divisional Secretariat to carry out a land survey in the Arisimale area to demarcate 500 acres of land for the Arisimale temple. We are not aware of who had taken the decision – we only acted upon the request made by the Divisional Secretariat.

At the end of last year when our team went to carry out the survey people of the area had campaigned against it. So we had to stop the work and we informed the relevant authorities that once they removed all those obstacles we would continue our work. We have not heard from them since then.”

When inquired the Acting District Secretary of the Kuchchweli Division C. Krishnendran about the legal aspect of the land permit given to the residents in the area, he added that some residents have claimed that they have permits. He added, “Unfortunately, due to a fire that broke in 1990 most of the documents were burnt and we could not ascertain who have received proper permits.” He added that since he was appointed recently he was not well aware of the Arisimale issue and therefore could not provide accurate answers to many of the questions.

However from what he gathered, he added that there had been a request to allocate 500 acres of land to the temple in the Arisimale area last year but they could not finalize it – when the Department of Survey tried to carry out the survey, residents in the area have interrupted them and now the work is on hold. According to him, the case is now being processed in court and since then, the Divisional Secretariat has not given any orders to any authorities or individuals related to the case.

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Traveling Directions to Arisimale Rajamaha Viharaya

Route from Colombo to Arisimale Rajamaha Viharaya	Route from Trincomalee to Arisimale Rajamaha Viharaya
Through : Kandy Road – Ambepussa – Kurunegala – Dambulla – Habarana – Trincomalee – trincomaee Distance : 320 km Travel time : 7 hours Driving directions : see on google map	Through : Kuchchaveli Distance : 54 km Travel time : 1 hour Driving directions : see on google maps