Sankamale Rajamaha Viharaya in Kuchchaveli

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Sankamale Rajamaha Viharaya in Kuchchaveli

Hidden on a hill overlooking the Kokkilai Lagoon, Sankamale’s ancient Buddhist monastery bears silent witness to centuries of devotion—and decades of neglect. Once part of a vast Polonnaruwa-era sacred complex, its ruins now struggle for survival amid encroaching settlements and the quiet erasure of Sri Lanka’s forgotten heritage.

The archaeological site presently identified as Sankamale Rajamaha Viharaya is situated on the northern boundary of the Kokkilai Lagoon, on a low hill known locally as Sankamale Kanda. In Tamil usage, the site is referred to as Kanchamalai or Kandaswami Malai. It lies within the Tennamaramavadi Grama Niladhari Division of the Kuchchaveli Divisional Secretariat, Trincomalee District. The hill rises gently above the lagoon and offers an extensive view of the surrounding landscape, suggesting its strategic and religious significance in ancient times.

Once a proud monument of Sri Lanka’s Buddhist heritage, this sacred site, known in Tamil as Kanchamalai or Kandaswami Malai, has in recent years become a silent witness to neglect, encroachment, and religious tension.

Rediscovery of a Forgotten Monastery

The site was first brought to attention in 2011 by the Venerable Panamure Thilakawansa Thero of the Asirimale Aranya Senasanaya, Pulmoddai. While traveling by boat from Pulmoddai to Kokkilai Temple, the Thero was informed of the presence of ancient ruins by the local boatsman. Upon visiting the location with the assistance of military personnel stationed nearby, he observed archaeological remains characteristic of an ancient Buddhist monastery, including the foundations of a dagaba and several carved stone artifacts. A written report was subsequently submitted to the Department of Archaeology for further examination.

Efforts to Preserve and Register the Site

Over the following months, the monk revisited the area several times, only to find growing destruction of the artifacts and an increasing number of new settlers nearby. To protect the site, a small group of monks builds temporary kutis (lodgings) and continues religious observances despite pressure from local extremists. Their persistence resulted in the registration of the monastery as Sankamale Purana Rajamaha Viharaya on 12 December 2012 by the Department of Buddhist Affairs.

Conflict and Delays in Protection

Plans to construct permanent monk dwellings faced prolonged bureaucratic delays. By the time approval was finally granted, extremist opposition in the area had intensified, and the army detachment that once provided security for the site had been withdrawn. A local Tamil politician subsequently intervened to halt the construction, resulting in the project being abandoned at the foundation stage.

Following appeals made by the monk, the Department of Archaeology conducted investigations and confirmed the existence of a dagaba foundation, stone door frames, and other carved remnants at the site. After several inspections, the area was officially gazetted on 16 August 2013 as property belonging to the Department of Archaeology. Despite this designation, the request to survey and allocate five hundred acres as Pooja Bhoomiya (Sacred Land) remains unfulfilled, while nearby settlements continue to expand toward the base of the hill.

Encroachment and Desecration

Reports later emerge indicating that large trees have been felled and sections of the hill have been converted into an unauthorized burial ground. Hindu idols and tridents are placed within the ancient dagaba, gradually transforming it into a site of Hindu worship. When the monk arranges for the construction of a guard post through private donations to protect the site, political interference once again halts the project, leaving the area exposed to further desecration.

Echoes of an Ancient Civilization

A subsequent inspection reveals the construction of a nearby Hindu kovil, built using ancient carved stones that appear to have been taken from the original Buddhist site. The walls of the kovil clearly display reused Buddhist masonry. Among the most alarming findings is a stone slab bearing a carved image of the Buddha’s head, embedded into the outer wall of the kovil.

Venerable Thilakawansa Thero concludes that Sankamale Hill was once part of an extensive monastic complex dating to the early Polonnaruwa period. The surrounding terrain, scattered with archaeological remnants and offering a commanding view of the Kokkilai Lagoon, indicates the presence of a thriving Buddhist settlement that flourished during the reign of King Dutugemunu. Today, these remnants endure in silence—testimonies to a heritage slowly vanishing under the weight of neglect and cultural encroachment

References

Ratnaweera, T. (2018, August 18). බුදු සිරස කෙටූ ගල්පුවරු අරන් කෝවිලේ බිත්ති බැඳලා. . .! අන්තවාදයෙන් බිමට පෙරළුණු සංඛමලේ බොදු උරුමය | Sinhalanet.net. Sinhalanet. Retrieved October 17, 2025, from https://www.sinhalanet.net/බුදු-සිරස-කෙටූ-ගල්පුවරු-අ

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