Nestled between the Indian Ocean and the main Galle Road, just 6.5 kilometers south of Hikkaduwa on the way to Galle, stands the charming and historic Holy Trinity Church in Patuwatha. This small yet picturesque church, consecrated on 22 October 1875, has been a quiet spiritual landmark for nearly a one and a half century.
In the murals within the image house of Thotagamuwa Subadrarama Purana Viharaya, the colonial imprint becomes even more apparent. Figures are shown in European-style clothing, including trousers, shoes, and elaborate hairstyles that contrast with traditional attire. The presence of horse-drawn carriages in the artwork further emphasizes this transitional period in Sri Lankan cultural history.
The Hunuvilagama site comprises the ruins of a stupa, the remains of an ancient image house, and a broken Buddha statue. Around the image house, numerous brick fragments are scattered across the ground. Additionally, fifteen short stone pillars, likely once supporting the structure, can still be identified at the image house site.
Kimbula Ketu Gala is an ancient monastic site located within Wilpattu National Park. Although no systematic archaeological excavations have been undertaken here, surface evidence points to the existence of a significant Buddhist establishment. Scattered across the rocky outcrop and adjacent jungle are numerous fragments of bricks, roof tiles, and dressed stone blocks
Galbendi Neeravia is situated northeast of the Maradanmaduwa tank and is surrounded by thick jungle. About ten acres of the forest is straddled with granite foundations eight feet square, symmetrically sited over the area in groups of five. In a central spot stands the foundation of a more elaborate structure.
Nai Pena Guhava is a prominent rock complex located within Wilpattu National Park and can be accessed via the Kala Oya Beat Office. Among its notable archaeological features is a ruined stupa, now heavily damaged by treasure hunters. The stupa originally measured approximately 60 meters in circumference and stood around 3 meters in height.
Maha Andaragollewa Wewa is an ancient and now-ruined reservoir situated near the eastern boundary of Wilpattu National Park. On a rock outcrop at the reservoir’s bund, an archaeological site was discovered, featuring remnants such as a foundation stone, a square-shaped stone block, and scattered brick fragments. Two natural rocky pools can also be seen on the same outcrop.
Tammannawala (also spelled Thammannawala) site contains the remains of a stupa, stone pillars, foundation stones, and brick fragments. The ruined stupa has a circumference of approximately 55 meters, with a 2-meter-deep pit dug into its center by treasure hunters. The surviving stone pillars, ranging in height from 1.2 to 3 meters, suggest they once supported multiple structures of varying sizes.
The Wettambugala cave itself is a monumental natural formation—75 meters long and approximately 20 meters high. The paintings span a surface area of about 60 meters in length and 3 meters in height, depicting a variety of subjects: human and animal figures, symbolic motifs, and notably, numerous wild elephants.
After the British took control of Dutch-held territories in 1802, a new resistance emerged in the form of Vanni Bandara (Tamil: Pandara Vanniyan), a chieftain from the Kolamune area in Mullaitivu. Married to a woman from the Nuwarawewa family in Anuradhapura, he gained support from both northern and southern Vanni factions.
Moratota Himi began the construction of Selawa Rajamaha Viharaya during King Kirti Sri Rajasinghe’s time. The project was later continued and completed under King Rajadhi Rajasinghe (1781–1798), who was himself a disciple of Moratota Himi. It was King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe (1798–1815), the last monarch of Sri Lanka, who finally completed the enshrinement rituals by placing the “eyes” on the Buddha statue
Opposite the Nelson Cinema Hall in Trincomalee, on an irregular quadrilateral plot of land near the St. Stephen’s War Cemetery, stand four ancient Bo trees, now largely forgotten and left to deteriorate. These sacred trees—267 years old—are a living symbol of the revival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka during the Kandyan era
This ancient Kadurugoda Viharaya lies at the base of a prominent rock formation rising roughly 200 meters. The site includes the remains of a large ancient stupa, now reduced to a mound. Its center has been dug by treasure hunters. At the entrance to the stupa platform, two broken stone pillars stand, and a carved stone slab—likely part of an ancient doorway—serves as a step.
Velgam Vihara is a rare 2nd-century BCE monastery near Trincomalee that survived Chola invasions through unique Tamil patronage. Renamed Rajarajaperumpalli, it features a fusion of Buddhist and Hindu architecture, standing as a landmark of enduring religious and ethnic coexistence.
King Udaya I, referred to as Uda in the Pujavaliya and Rajavaliya, was the son of King Mahinda II. He ascended the throne in 797 CE following his father’s death. The Culavamsa does not explicitly mention his name, leading to some confusion in earlier historical records where some identified him as King Dappula II.
King Mahinda II, also known as Salamevan Mihindu in the Pujavaliya and Rajavaliya, was the son of King Aggabodhi VI (r. 733–772 CE). He ascended the throne in 777 CE following the death of his uncle, King Aggabodhi VII, and ruled for 20 years. Unlike his predecessors, Mahinda II’s reign was marked by continuous rebellion and political challenges.
Aggabodhi VII, referred to as Kuda Akbo in Pujavaliya and Rajavaliya, was the son of King Mahinda I (730-733 CE). He became king in 772 CE following the death of his cousin, King Aggabodhi VI.
Aggabodhi VI, referred to as Sulu Akbo in the Pujavaliya and Akbo in the Rajavaliya, was the son of King Kassapa III. He became king in 733 CE following the death of his uncle, King Mahinda I. Upon ascending the throne, Aggabodhi VI took the regnal name Silamegha.
King Mahinda I, referred to as Midel in Pujavaliya and Midelpana in Rajavaliya, the youngest son of King Manavamma, ascended the throne of Anuradhapura in 733 CE, following the death of his brother King Kassapa III. Like his elder brothers, Mahinda was born during Manavamma’s exile in the Pallava Kingdom, and his early life was shaped by the political turbulence of the previous decades.
King Kassapa III, called Kasabu in Pujavaliya and Rajavaliya the second son of King Manavamma, ascended the throne of Anuradhapura in 724 CE, following the death of his elder brother, King Aggabodhi V. Like his brothers, Kassapa was born during their father’s exile in the Pallava Kingdom.
