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Mapa Maligawa / Palace of Viceroy of Anuradhapura Kingdom (මාපා මාලිගය)

According to the description provided on the information board of the site, it states that the building exhibits the style of architecture of the Anuradhapura period and according to folklore, this was the palace of the king’s viceroy. As to who built it or its purpose is uncertain. From the design, it could be surmised that the structure has been built for purposes other than a palace. The building has been conserved in 1951.

Potawa Ambalama in Ridimaliyadda (පෝටෑව අම්බලම)

57 years ago2 years ago02 mins

Potawa Ambalama is a small Ambalama on the Mahiyanganaya – Bibila road in Ridimaliyadda. It lies in the middle of a paddy field at the 15 km post of the B057 (Bibile – Uraniya – Mahiyangana) road. It is built with brick and mortar and six brick pillars hold the roof. The roof is tiled with Calicut clay tiles.

An enhanced and colorised photo taken in 1924 of the Western Monastery 'N' of Ancient Anuradhapura

Western Monastery ‘N’ of Ancient Anuradhapura (අනුරාධපුර බටහිර ආරාමය N)

57 years ago9 months ago05 mins

The Western Monastery “N” is located in a shrub jungle about 75 meters off Watawandana Road. Its secluded location makes it unlikely for any pilgrim to discover or explore. To reach the site, travel along the Watawandana Road from the other cluster of Western Monasteries around the intersection of Arippu Road towards Jethavanaramaya.

An enhanced and colorized photo taken in 1924 of the Western Monastery 'M' of Ancient Anuradhapura

Western Monastery ‘M’ of Ancient Anuradhapura (අනුරාධපුර බටහිර ආරාමය M)

57 years ago9 months ago02 mins

The Western Monastery “M” is located in a shrub jungle about 750 meters off Watawandana Road. Its secluded location makes it unlikely for any pilgrim to discover or explore. To reach the site, travel along the Watawandana Road from the other cluster of Western Monasteries around the intersection of Arippu Road towards Jethavanaramaya.

Ruins of the Western Monastery 'B' of Ancient Anuradhapura

Western Monastery ‘E’ of Ancient Anuradhapura (අනුරාධපුර බටහිර ආරාමය E)

57 years ago10 months ago02 mins

The Western Monastery “E” is located in the shrub jungle along Watawandana Road, close to Arippu Road. Its secluded location makes it unlikely for any pilgrim to discover or explore. To reach the site, turn onto Watawandana Road at Lolugaswewa Junction on Arippu Road, travel 360 meters, and then take the narrow gravel road to the left at the 2km post near a new Buddhist temple.

Ruins of the Western Monastery 'C' of Ancient Anuradhapura

Western Monastery ‘D’ of Ancient Anuradhapura (අනුරාධපුර බටහිර ආරාමය D)

57 years ago10 months ago02 mins

The Western Monastery “D” is located in the shrub jungle along Watawandana Road, close to Arippu Road. Its secluded location makes it unlikely for any pilgrim to discover or explore. To reach the site, turn onto Watawandana Road at Lolugaswewa Junction on Arippu Road, travel 375 meters, and then take the narrow gravel road to the left.

Java Lane in Slave Island in the early 20th century

Changing Face of the Slave Island

57 years ago9 months ago011 mins

The origin of the name “Slave Island” is no doubt connected with the slaves who were brought to the island by the Portuguese and Dutch colonial period. Although generally believed to be a slave-holding area, the connection of slaves to this area is not so straightforward.

Kilinochchi War Memorial (කිලිනොච්චි යුධ ස්මාරකය)

57 years ago2 years ago03 mins

The Kilinochchi War Memorial was built in the centre of Kilinochchi town in 2010 to commemorate the Sri Lankan military’s capture of the town from the LTTE in 2009, a pivotal moment in the long and bloody Sri Lankan Civil War. The memorial itself is a rectangular cuboid made of concrete pierced by a torpedo with a lotus flower rising out of the cracks at the top.

Puthukkudiyiruppu Victory Monument: A Symbol of Resilience and Reconciliation

57 years ago1 year ago03 mins

Nestled amidst serene surroundings, the Puthukkudiyiruppu Victory Monument stands as a silent witness to one of the most significant chapters in Sri Lanka’s history – the liberation of the civilians of the North and East parts of the country from the clutches of the ruthless terrorists of the LTTE after a brutal war that plagued the island nation for over three decades.

Muruthawa Ambalama (මුරුතව අම්බලම)

57 years ago2 years ago01 mins

Muruthawa Ambalama stands out due to its distinctive ground plan. It is constructed in a hexagonal shape with short walls. Twelve cylindrical pillars support the roof, with two pillars positioned at each corner of the hexagon. Likewise, the roof itself is hexagonal and consists of two layers. The structure features two entrances on the short walls, one at the front and one at the back.

Unawatuna Beach : A Slice of Paradise (උණවටුන මුහුදු වෙරළ)

57 years ago2 years ago03 mins

Unawatuna’s golden sands are perfect for soaking up the sun, building sandcastles, or reading a book with the sound of waves crashing in the background. The clear waters are ideal for swimming, and the presence of lifeguards ensures a safe and relaxing experience.

Thalpe Beach in the Southern Province (දකුණේ තල්පේ මුහුදු වෙරළ)

57 years ago3 months ago02 mins

Thalpe Beach is a unique coastal gem near Galle, famous for its iconic “rock pools” carved into the shoreline. These rectangular, emerald-green basins provide a natural, tranquil swimming experience protected from the Indian Ocean’s surf. This serene stretch of golden sand is perfect for relaxation and breathtaking photography.

Urakanda Petroglyphs (ඌරාකන්ද ප්‍රාග් ඓතිහාසික සීරුම් චිත්‍ර)

57 years ago2 years ago03 mins

The natural cave with petroglyphs in Urakada was first discovered by the former Director General of Archaeology, W.H. Wijayapala in 1983. Petroglyphs also called rock engravings which have been achieved using some form of sharp instrument, on the face of a rock or a cave wall. In Sri Lanka, only seven such sites have been discovered.

Moratuwa Ambalama : An AI enhanced photo from 1904

Lost Ambalama of Moratuwa (මතකයෙන් ගිලිහුණු මොරටුව අම්බලම)

57 years ago6 months ago03 mins

The Ambalama located in Kurunduwatta. Moratuwa, along with its exact location, has faded into obscurity. Yet, it holds historical significance as it was constructed by the philanthropist Jeronis de Soysa, father of Charles Henry De Soysa, some years prior to 1853. Alongside the Ambalama structure, a parcel of land adorned with diverse trees was generously donated to serve as its surrounding garden.

Holy Emmanuel’s Church of Hanguranketha (හඟුරන්කෙත ශුද්ධවූ එම්මානුවෙල් පල්ලිය)

57 years ago2 years ago04 mins

Built in 1886 by the philanthropist Charles Henry de Soysa, Holy Emmanuel’s Church of Hanguranketha is one of the oldest Churches in the district of Nuwara Eliya. A special feature found in this church is a stone moonstone near its main entrance. Such moonstones are generally found in Buddhist shrines and buildings near its main entrance. This a plain moonstone and lacks any elaborate carvings.

Dutch Reformed Church of Matara (මාතර ඕලන්ද රෙපරමාදු පල්ලිය)

57 years ago1 year ago03 mins

The Dutch Reformed Church of Matara is nestled within the walls of the historic Matara Fort, initially built by the Dutch. The fortification of Matara took place around five years The building was erected in 1706, according to an inscription over the doorway. During subsequent repairs and improvements this date has been obliterated and another date, that of 1767 is now to be seen.

IPKF Memorial in Palali Sri Lanka (පලාලි ඉන්දියානු සාම සාධක හමුදා ස්මාරකය)

57 years ago2 years ago03 mins

The IPKF memorial at Palaly remembers 33 Indian soldiers of the 10 Indian Para Comando unit including Lieutenant Colonel Arun Kumar Chhabra who laid their lives for the sake of the territorial integrity of their friendly neighbouring country.

IPKF Memorial in Colombo Sri Lanka (කොළඹ ඉන්දියානු සාම සාධක හමුදා ස්මාරකය)

57 years ago2 years ago03 mins

The IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force) Memorial constructed by the Sri Lanka Navy located in Jana Kala Kendraya premises near the parliament complex, commemorates the soldiers of the Indian Peace Keeping Force who lost their lives during Operation Pawan, which was part of the efforts to intervene in the Sri Lankan Civil War. The monument was built in 2008, one year before it decisively defeated the LTTE.

Elephant Pass War Memorial (අලිමංකඩ යුද ස්මාරකය)

57 years ago2 years ago03 mins

The Elephant Pass War Memorial consists of a monument and surrounding landscaped grounds. The monument typically features inscriptions, plaques, and symbols commemorating the fallen soldiers and their contributions. It serves as a place of reflection and remembrance for visitors, including veterans, families of the fallen, and members of the public.

Ratnapura Clock Tower and World War Memorial (රත්නපුර ඔරලෝසු කනුව හා ලෝක සංග්‍රාම යුද්ධ ස්මාරකය)

57 years ago1 year ago02 mins

At the centre of Ratnapura Town lies the clock tower which was built as a monument for the fallen servicemen from Ratnapura District during World War I. The clock tower was commissioned at the end of the war in 1920 by the Local War Memorial Committee and was unveiled on 03rd June 1922.

Mailawaddawan Archaeological Ruins in Vakaneri (වාකනේරි මයිලවඩ්ඩවාන් පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන්)
The Anurādhapura-period Mailawaddawan ruins in Vakaneri (Kiran) feature a small building complex hidden within the forest west of the Vakaneri Reservoir. The site contains a row of seven standing 50-centimeter stone pillars alongside numerous scattered stone fragments. […]
Vakaneri Archaeological Ruins (වාකනේරි පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන්)
The Anurādhapura-period Vakaneri ruins in Kiran, Batticaloa, located near the Maduru Oya River, feature a large building originally built with 4-meter stone pillars. Three complete pillars remain grounded, alongside clay brick foundations exposed by illicit excavations. […]
Vakaneri Wewa Reservoir (වාකනේරි වැව)
Vakaneri Wewa is a 4.21-square-kilometer ancient reservoir in Kiran, Batticaloa, impounded by a 1.4-kilometer earthen embankment. Situated along the A11 road and Maduru Oya, its waters submerge pre-existing Anurādhapura-period settlements and iron ore deposits during high water levels. […]
Vakaneri Reserve Buddhist Archaeological Ruins (වාකනේරි වැව් රක්ෂිතයේ බෞද්ධ පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන්)
The Anurādhapura-period Vakaneri Reserve Monastic Complex in Panayamuravu Forest, Kiran, contains a severely looted stupa mound and eight ruined buildings. Surviving features include a rectangular structure with 17 stone pillars, an adjacent seven-pillar extension, and a 12-pillar structure. […]
Archaeological Ruins in Vakaneri Reservoir (වාකනේරි වැව තුල පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන්)
The Anurādhapura-period ruins in Vakaneri are located within the Vakaneri Reservoir bed near the western end of its bund. Exposed during low water levels, the site features four locations with 1-meter-tall standing and fallen stone pillars, alongside scattered pottery fragments indicating ancient human settlement. […]
Palambachchenai Archaeological Ruins in Punanai (පූනානි පාලම්බච්නෛ පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන්)
The Anurādhapura-period Palambachchenai ruins off Punanai, Batticaloa, are situated within paddy fields of Palambachchenai. The heavily disturbed site features six standing and four fallen stone pillars alongside scattered pottery fragments, indicating an ancient structure that has been significantly displaced by treasure hunting and vandalism. […]
Kavarakoshanmadu Buddhist Archaeological Ruins in Muruthtthanai (මුරුත්තනෙයි කවරකොෂාන්මඩු බෞද්ධ පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන්)
The Early Anurādhapura-period Buddhist monastic site near Kavarakoshanmadu spans a 0.8-hectare villu area north of a Maduru Oya tributary. It features a looted, 1-meter-tall stupa mound, scattered historic bricks, pottery, multiple stone pillars, four pillar bases, and various stone slabs. […]
Muruthtthanai Buddhist Monastic Archaeological Ruins 3 (මුරුත්තනෙයි පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන් 3)
The Anurādhapura-period Muruthtthanai Monastic Site 3 in Kiran features a small structure with seven stone pillars in a 3×4 arrangement. A Padowanada Gala (foot-washing basin) remains nearby, while an associated Siripatul Gala sits at Mariamman Kovil. […]
Kanandanai Archaeological Ruins at in Muruthtthanai (මුරුත්තනෙයි කානන්දනෛ පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන්)
The Anurādhapura-period Kanandanai ruins in Kiran are located in a paddy field near the Maduru Oya. The site features five displaced 2-meter-tall stone pillars from an ancient building, along with scattered fragments of ancient bricks, indicating the former presence of a substantial structure. […]
Archaeological Ruins at Mariamman Kovil in Muruthtthanai (මුරුත්තානෛ මාරිඅම්මාන් කෝවිල් භූමියේ පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන්)
The Anurādhapura-period ruins at Mariamman Kovil in Muruthtthanai (Kiran) are situated 50 meters east of a Maduru Oya tributary. The site features the remains of a small building, including four broken, 30-centimeter-tall stone pillars currently intertwined within the roots of a tamarind tree. […]
Archaeological Ruins Behind Amman Kovil in Muruthtthanai (මුරුත්තනෙයි අම්මාන් කෝවිල පිටුපස පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන්)
Located in Muruthtthanai (Kiran), these small ancient ruins sit within a paddy field directly behind the Amman Kovil. The site features stone pillars and slabs scattered across a circular 10-square-meter area, representing a structure of uncertain historical date, origin, and original function due to limited evidence. […]
Archaeological Ruins on the Land of Vairamuttu Nagendran in Muruthtthanai (වෛරමුත්තු නාගේන්ද්‍රන්ගේ ඉඩමේ පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන්)
The Muruthtthanai ruins on Vairamuttu Nagendran’s land in Kiran are situated within private property. The site contains a small ancient structure of unknown date and origin, constructed from roughly worked stone blocks and including at least four stone pillars that still stand in their original positions. […]
Muruthtthanai Werama Archaeological Site in Kiran (මුරුත්තානෛ වේරම පුරාවිද්‍යා භූමිය)
The Anurādhapura-period Muruthtthanai Werama site in Kiran features a monastic complex identified by a Siri Pathul Gala (Buddha footprint stone), ancient pottery, roof tiles, and bricks. Architectural characteristics at the location also suggest the site may have previously served as a prehistoric burial ground. […]
Palakkadu Road Archaeological Site in Kiran (පාලක්කාඩු මාර්ගයේ පුරාවිද්‍යා භූමිය)
The Anurādhapura-period Palakkadu Road site in Kiran is split in two by a modern gravel road. It features nineteen surviving 1-meter-tall, roughly dressed stone pillars, which likely formed a 4×7 grid structure before being partially destroyed. […]
Miniminiththaweli Archaeological Site 1 in Kiran (මිනිමිණිත්තවේලි පුරාවිද්‍යා භූමිය)
The Anurādhapura-era Miniminiththāweli site 1 in Kiran features a historic building complex heavily damaged by forest gravel road construction. This development destroyed the site's archaeological context and displaced ancient artifacts, including a stone-carved flower altar bulldozed to the roadside. […]
Miniminiththaweli Archaeological Site 2 in Kiran (මිනිමිණිත්තවේලි පුරාවිද්‍යා භූමිය 2)
The Maduru Oya Valley site in Miniminiththāweli features an Anurādhapura-period building complex with stone pillars and brick foundations. Unfortunately, illegal excavations by treasure hunters have severely damaged these structures, though they have also exposed various ancient artifacts and pottery. […]