Miniyampitiya Watta Archaeological Ruins in Kegalle

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While building the Central Expressway between Colombo and Kandy, a discovery was made of ruins of two ancient stupas which had never been reported before.

The site lies in Rambukkana Miniyampitiya area in Kegalle District. Discovered as a mound of earth, the excavations of the site were started on 25 April 2019 by the Kegalle office of the Archaeology Department.

Two stupas are of about 10 and 15 meters in circumference. Based on these excavations, the stupa one (1) showed an early primitive construction pattern. Clay and stone have been used to build this edifice. It has been built as two parts. The base is a raised platform with walls built with rubble (stone rubble) and the center circular base where the stupa stood had been filled with gravel and/or clay and compressed.

The stupa was built on 2 circular bases and about five rows of stones were remaining from the stupa when it was excavated. Archaeology officers had determined that this stupa to built in the 2nd or 3rd century BCE and that it could be a subsidiary stupa of the Deliwela Kota Vehera. A similar type of construction had been observed with the initial construction of the Deliwala Kota Vehera during its excavation.

The second stupa mound was built at a later date than the first stupa based on the building materials and shapes used in this stupa. It seems that with the collapse of the first stupa, a new stupa next to the older one had been built using better materials and techniques. It has been concluded that there are several stages of construction of this stupa mound. Stone, clay, and bricks are used for stupa number 02. Most of the stones used have been carved into curved form. All these stones have been used for the basal rings and below. The upper part of the second stupa has been constructed using stone fragments and bricks.

These ruins have been restored by the archaeology department.