Ampara District

Holike is a settlement created in the 1950’s in Padiyatalawa. The Holike Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient temple complex with an unknown history.

The ruins of Veheragoda lies on a rock platuau close to Uhana in Ampara District. Ancient ruins of a temple complex lies in an area of about 10 acres surrounding this rock.

The archaeological remains of Veheragama lies on two rocky surfaces rising 20-30 feet off the ground in the village. Remains of a dilapidated stupa which existed on one rock surface is no more.

This is a marked archaeological site on the Deegavapi Road in Irakkamam, Ampara. The temple ruins lies 4 km before Deegavpi and 1.7 km after turning to the Deegavapi Road. Other than a newly built stupa on a rocky plateau and steps cut in to the natural rock, nothing much of interest can be observed.

Once a great monastery of Bikkhunis, The Mullikulamalai monastery stands abandoned, destroyed and desecrated amidst the jungles that covers the ruins today.

Deegamadutu Dagoba Ruins lies on a rock plateau a little away from the main Akkarapattu – Sagama toad. Coming from Akkarapattu toward Sagama, turn right to the small road which lies almost opposite the Gamini Tissa Monastery

An un-named archaeological site carries a identification board of the archaeology department at the rocky area south of the Sagama Reservoir (Sangaman Tank) visible to the Akkarapattu – Sagama toad. Whatever ruins which it had has been completely destroyed.

Kanchikudichchi Aru Ruins lies on the two hills on either side of the Kanchikudichchi reservoir embankment. One hill has a 20 ft. dagaba which has been pillaged. The other hill has 11 caves with and one with Brahmi (early Sinhala) inscriptions which can be dated to 2nd century B. C. or older.

The ruins of Sangaman Kanda lies between Akkaraipattu and Komari on the Sangaman Kanda rock plateau (Sangamankandiya) close to the main A5 highway. A dilapidated stupa lies at the top of the rock.

Girikumbila Temple ruins are believed to be part of the massive Monastic Complex of Rajagala in the ancient past, these ruins now stands on the other side Sof the Ampara – Mahaoya road about 25 km from Ampara town in the Rajagalathanne area.

Below the Hennaanigala (Henannegala) rock lies ruins of a ancient monastery which has been dated back to the 3rd – 1st century BC. Underneath this massive rock which is much larger than Sigiriya is one of the longest drip ledge caves in Sri Lanka.

Built by King Kanvantissa before the 2nd centenary BC, Hulan Nuge Tharulengala Raja Maha Viharaya ( Tharulengala Forest Hermitage) on a 633 feet high rocky hill called Karadahela in Lahugala Divisional secretariat in Ampara district is a fine example of the grandeur of the ancient Digamdulla heritage.

udupatuna is an ancient Mahayana Shrine complex, lying deep inside the Kumbukkan Forest Reserve far away from civilization. The most striking of the ruins is a carving of a Buddha Statue flanked by 2 Bodhisattwa statues similar the carvings at Buduruwagala at Wellawaya.

Built in 3rd century BC, Gamini Tissa Monastery complex in Mottagala lies about 10km from Akkaraipattu and is currently being destroyed by the Muslim community in the area due to neglect of the government.

Piyangala Chitralena (cave of frescoes) is an huge cave with ancient veddha paintings lying close the the Piyangala Forest Hermitage in Ampara.

Udayagiri Raja Maha Viharaya at Ampara is an ancient temple going as far as 1st-3rd century BC. It is believed that this temple lies on the battle ground of King Parakrambahu and Queen Sugala Devi.