
The Anurādhapura-period Palambachchenai ruins off Punanai, Batticaloa, are situated within paddy fields of Palambachchenai. The heavily disturbed site features six standing and four fallen stone pillars alongside scattered pottery fragments, indicating an ancient structure that has been significantly displaced by treasure hunting and vandalism.
Palambachchenai Archaeological Ruins are located in the village of Palambachchenai within the Grāma Niladhāri Division of Punanai West, in the Divisional Secretariat Division of Kōrale Pattu South (Kiran) in Batticaloa District.
Access Route
From Oddamavadi, travel towards Navaladi and turn onto the Vakaneri Road at the railway bridge. Proceed for approximately 8 kilometers (5 miles), passing through Mullivattavan, until you reach Potana Junction. From there, travel a further 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) to reach the Palambachchenai Road. Continue for approximately 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) along this road to reach the paddy fields where the archaeological site is located.
Historical Background
The architectural features of the structures and the associated archaeological remains indicate that the site dates to the Anuradhapura period.
Location of the Site and Nature of Archaeological Evidence
The ruins are situated among the paddy fields of Palambachchenai. The site contains six standing stone pillars, while a further four stone pillars lie on the ground.
The site has suffered considerable disturbance due to the activities of treasure hunters and vandals, resulting in the displacement of several stone artifacts from their original locations. In addition, fragments of clay pottery are scattered throughout the area.
The surviving stone pillars, pottery fragments, and other displaced archaeological remains provide evidence of a structure dating to the Anuradhapura period.
Geographical Coordinates
The exact location of the site is as follows:
North Latitude: 7°58’27.7″N
East Longitude: 81°24’00.8″E

References
- Exploration and Documentation Division (Ed.). (2017). පුරාවිද්යා ස්ථාන හඳුනා ගැනීමේ ගවේෂණ වාර්තාව, මඩකලපුව දිස්ත්රික්කය. Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka.
Also See
Map of the Palambachchenai Archaeological Ruins in Punanai
The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites
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Traveling to the Palambachchenai Archaeological Ruins in Punanai
| Route from Batticaloa to Palambachchenai Archaeological Ruins in Punanai |
| Through: Oddamavadi Distance: 50km Travel time: 1.30 hours Driving directions : see on Google Maps |
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