Mavadivembu Viharathottam Archaeological Ruins

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Mavadivembu Archaeological Ruins in Batticaloa — Mavadivembu Viharathottam Archaeological Ruins in Batticaloa

Hidden deep within Batticaloa’s hinterland lies Viharathottam, the ruins of a once-magnificent Buddhist stupa—now a mound of broken bricks encroached by settlements. Once among the largest stupas in the East, it stands as a silent reminder of a forgotten Buddhist past struggling to survive neglect and erasure.

Archaeological evidence clearly proves that the Northern and Eastern regions of Sri Lanka once flourished as vibrant centers of Buddhist civilization during the golden eras of the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa kingdoms. Even today, countless ruins from these glorious centuries remain scattered across the landscape, silent yet powerful reminders of the Buddhist legacy.

Sadly, many of these monuments have been deliberately vandalized in an attempt to erase their identity from the land. Since the end of the civil conflict, numerous sites have fallen prey to encroachment and destruction by extremist groups, while government neglect has only worsened their plight.

The Ancient Temple of Viharathottam in Mavadivembu

The small village of Mavadivembu (also known as Mavadi Vembu), located between Pasikudah and Batticaloa in the Eravur Pattu Chenkaladi Divisional Secretariat of Batticaloa District, is one such place. Amidst farmlands lie the remnants of an ancient Buddhist temple complex, including one of the largest stupas of the Anuradhapura period found in the eastern province. Locals refer to the site as Viharathottam—a Tamil adaptation of the original Sinhala name Vihara Thota.

In 2017, the Ampara Archaeological Team discovered the site, identifying a stupa measuring approximately 32 meters (105 feet) in diameter with a circumference of 100 meters (328 feet). Based on its architectural features, archaeologists date it to the 2nd or 3rd century BCE. Seven additional structures were also found nearby, though only the buildings located to the east of the stupa remain relatively undamaged.

Destruction and Neglect

Tragically, in 2019, the stupa and its surrounding ruins were bulldozed by a private individual to make way for the cultivation of coconuts, chillies, and other crops. The Dimbulagala monastic community lodged a complaint with the police against the individual responsible, as well as the Secretary of the Batticaloa District and the Assistant Commissioner of Archaeology. The Department of Archaeology later installed boundary posts to mark the site, but the irreversible damage had already been done.

Unauthorized treasure hunting further worsened the destruction, with excavations reaching depths of about 1 meter (3.3 feet) and covering an area roughly 4 meters (13 feet) in length and width. Among the remaining artefacts are a plain moonstone, two Siripathul Gal (carved footprints of the Buddha) to the south of the stupa, and the fallen Yupa Gala to the east. Piles of stone slabs, bricks, and pillars—reportedly heaped together by machinery—attest to the site’s former grandeur.

In the years following the destruction, a Hindu kovil and a Christian statue have been erected near the stupa, further altering the historical context of the sacred site. By 2025, most of the remaining ruins had disappeared, and much of the surrounding land had been occupied by non-Buddhist residents. The Department of Archaeology has largely ignored the desecration, reportedly due to political pressure from Tamil parties.

The Fight for Preservation

The sole voice tirelessly advocating for the protection of this ancient site is Venerable Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thero of Sri Mangalarama Viharaya in Batticaloa. The Thero has repeatedly directed the Department of Archaeology to secure and protect ancient Buddhist heritage sites in the Eastern Province. Despite his continuous efforts, official action remains limited, leaving the millennia-old Mavadivembu Viharathottam stupa and other monuments vulnerable to further destruction.

Cultural and Archaeological Significance

Archaeologically, Mavadivembu provides crucial evidence of early Buddhist civilization in the Eastern Province. Sociologically, the area holds equal significance. The land surrounding the ancient temple is home to the Sea Veddas—an indigenous community whose ancestors once spoke a language closely related to Sinhala but now communicate primarily in Tamil. The presence of this community highlights the deep-rooted and multicultural history of the region.

The tragedy of Mavadivembu Viharathottam serves as a stark reminder of Sri Lanka’s fragile archaeological heritage—where ancient monuments that once embodied the spiritual and cultural strength of a civilization now struggle to survive amidst neglect and political apathy.

Special thanks to Chandima Ambanwela, lecturer at Rajarata University of Sri Lanka for the latest information of this archaeological site and the photos.

How the stupa was bulldozed from one side at Mavadivembu Archaeological Ruins in Batticaloa

Moonstone and and other ruins by the stupa at Mavadivembu Archaeological Ruins in Batticaloa

Various ruins including pillar bases pushed aside at the Mavadivembu Archaeological Ruins Various ruins including pillar bases pushed aside at the Mavadivembu Archaeological Ruins in Batticaloain Batticaloa

Ruins of a building about 75 meters away from the stupa at Mavadivembu Archaeological Ruins in Batticaloa

A newly built Hindu kovil close the the stupa at Mavadivembu Archaeological Ruins in Batticaloa

A chritian statue built close to the ruins of A newly built Hindu kovil close the the stupa at Mavadivembu

References

ada.lk. 2019. අනුරාධපුර සමයට අයත් මඩකලපුවේ තිබූ විශාලම ස්තූපයත් ඩෝසර් කරලා?. [online] Available at: <https://bit.ly/3NjfFGC> [Accessed 16 May 2022].
Vanniarachchy, A., 2020. Presidential Task Force for Archaeological Heritage Management in the Eastern Province. [online] A Writer’s Diary. Available at: <https://amahvanniarachchy.wordpress.com/2020/06/27/presidential-task-force-for-archaeological-heritage-management-in-the-eastern-province/> [Accessed 16 May 2022].
www.lankadeepa.lk. 2019. දාගැබක් ඩොසර් කර වගා කිරීමට එරෙහිව පැමිණිල්ලක්. [online] Available at: <https://bit.ly/3yFn0MJ> [Accessed 16 May 2022].
National Audit Office (Performance Audit Division) (2019) Management of the Archeological Heritage of Sri Lanka.

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