Kathiraveli Prehistoric Burial and Grounds & Archaeological Site (කදිරවේලි ආදී මානව සුසාන භූමිය)

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Drip Ledge Caves - Cogent evidence of a ancient Buddhist Monastery at the Kathiraveli Pre-Historic Burial Grounds — Drip Ledge Caves – Cogent evidence of a ancient Buddhist Monastery at the Kathiraveli Pre-Historic Burial Grounds
Image courtesy of Dr. Ashan Geeganage

Travelling from Batticaloa towards the Seruwila Temple, one reaches Kadiraveli after passing Pasikudah and Vakarai. Although Kadiraveli appears today as a modest settlement of farmers and fishermen, the surrounding area contains extensive remains of ancient Buddhist monastic establishments, as well as a small but distinctive Vedda community.

The Vedda Community

The Vedda people of Sri Lanka are generally categorized into three groups. The earliest communities inhabit forested regions and traditionally depend on hunting. Village Veddas are those who have transitioned from a nomadic lifestyle to settled village life, engaging in agriculture and animal husbandry alongside hunting. Coastal Veddas, also known as sea Veddas, have settled along the coast and have gradually integrated local languages and cultural practices.

Small coastal Vedda communities can still be found in areas such as Vakarai, Kalkudah, Vakaneri, and Kadiraveli. The coastline of Kadiraveli itself is home to approximately 20 Vedda families belonging to this coastal group.

Prehistoric Burial Grounds

Proceeding about 1 km (0.62 miles) beyond Kadiraveli towards Verugal, one encounters a recently constructed boundary wall enclosing the Kadiraveli Prehistoric Burial Grounds. Excavations at this site have revealed megalithic urn burials, including black-and-red ware pottery tentatively dated to the 3rd century BCE, along with iron tools (Senivaratne, 1984).

Monastic Remains and Rock Caves

Rock-cut steps and drip-ledged caves in the area indicate that this location once formed part of an ancient Buddhist monastic complex. There are three drip-ledged caves on this rock formation, with the central cave being the largest.

The floor of the main cave is paved with a layer of bricks, and the entrance height measures approximately 5 m (16.4 ft). Traces of colored plaster remain visible on the cave walls, suggesting decorative or protective finishes.

Stone-cut stairways connect the central cave to the northern cave, and additional steps are carved at the top of the rock surface. The two smaller caves on either side open towards the east and south-east. Scattered around the site are fragments of ancient bricks, stone pillar bases, and roofing tiles, indicating the presence of associated structures.

To the north-east of the caves, there is also evidence of a pond, likely part of the monastic infrastructure.

Based on these features, the site appears to have functioned as a monastic residence during the Anuradhapura Period, reflecting a well-developed and organized Buddhist settlement in the region.

Cogent evidence of a ancient Buddhist Monastery at the Kathiraveli Pre-Historic Burial Grounds

References

Exploration and Documentation Division (Ed.). (2017). පුරාවිද්යා ස්ථාන හඳුනා ගැනීමේ ගවේෂණ වාර්තාව, මඩකලපුව දිස්ත්රික්කය. Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka.
Senivaratne, S. (1984). The Archeology of the Megalithic Black and Red Ware Complex in Sri Lanka. Ancient Ceylon, 5, 237–305.
Wijesekera, N. D. (1963). Beliefs & Ceremonial Associated With Death in Ceylon. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, VIII (part 2), 225–244.

Also See

Pre Historic Burial Sites of Sri Lanka

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Traveling Directions to the Kathiraveli Prehistoric Burial and Grounds & Archaeological Site

Route from Trincomalee to Kathiraveli Prehistoric Burial and Grounds & Archaeological Site	Route from Batticaloa to Kathiraveli Prehistoric Burial and Grounds & Archaeological Site
Through : Kinniya – Mutur – Serunuwara – Verugal Distance : 63 km Travel time : 1.45 hours Driving directions : see on google maps	Through : Chenkaladi – Kalkuda – Vakare – Kathiraveli Distance : 75 km Travel time : 2 hours Driving directions : see on google maps

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