Gelanigama Ambalama is an ancient brick and mortar wayside rest close to the Southern Expressway entrance at Gelanigama. This is a small building with a half-height wall built around it. It seems to have been renovated recently with the roof being tiled with clay Calicut Tiles (rata ulu). Inside the ambalama, connected to the rear wall lies an ancient granite plaque placed by the doner of the ambalama. This probably would have been at the front earlier. You can clearly make out 1851 at the top. Today this ambalama has become a home to a homeless man.
This 8 line inscription mentions Hewage Koranolis Appu who was residing in Gelanigama donating the land on 1851 June 18 to obtain Nibbana and to confer merit to all others. Some letters on the 7th line have been worn out. It reads as follows;
1851 6 මාසේ 18 ගැලනිගම පදිංචි හේවගේ කොරනෝලිස් අප්පු විසින් මෙ ඉඩම නිවං පිණිස පිනට ඇරියාය. ………… අයටත් නිවං සිදුවේව
(Gamage, 2020)
To reach this Ambalama travel towards Gelanigama entrance to the Southern Expressway from Bandaragama. The Ambalama lies between the two entrances to the expressway on the right.
References
- Gamage, D.P. (2020) Epigraphical Notes Nos 22-23. Colombo 7, Sri Lanka: Department of Archaeology.
Also See
- List of Ambalama’s in Sri Lanka
- Ancient Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka
- Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity
Map of Gelanigama Ambalama
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Travel Directions to Gelanigama Ambalama
Route from Colombo to Gelanigama Ambalama |
distance : 38 km Travel time : 1.0 hours Time to Spent : 15 mins Driving directions : see on google map |
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