Trincomalee District

There is an old stupa on a small knoll in the village of Kevul, just off Keviliya Point, the southern tip of the Trincomalee harbour entrance called Sampur Sudaikuda Dagoba (Sudekuda, Sudaikuda). This Dagaba, facing the Indian Ocean, was discovered through the Seruvila archaeological exploration project and was completely bulldozed by extremists using dozers just within two days.

Vilankulama, located between Trincomalee and Kadawat Satara Divisional Secretariat, is a area full of ruins belonging to the early Anuradhapura period. Villagers who go to the forest to cut wood and collect bee’s honey say that 10 ancient and destroyed stupas are lying in the jungles below and above Vilankulama Wewa reservoir and on the hillock near the reservoir.

Masanvewa is another ancient Buddhist monastery hidden in the Trincomalee Kuchchaveli forest which its under threat from Hindu extremists. There are many such ruins in Kuchchaveli forest. Sembumale . Bambaragala, Debaragala are some of these. A Hindu kovil had been already setup among the ruins using the Buddhist ruins themselves.

From junction 97 on the road leading from Kantale to Trincomalee, take a right towards the Senawallikulam reservoir and reach the reservoir after traveling for another two kilometers. The archaeological site of Senawallikulam with its ruins is found at the end of the embankment.

Inside the Sinipura Viharaya (Seenipura Viharaya) lies a unique ancient Medicinal Trough (Beheth Oruwa) lying under shade of a tree. This Medicinal Trough (Beheth Oruwa) has been discovered among other ruins in the jungles of Kantale Sugar Factory and relocated to the temple for its safety from treasure hunters.

As you travel towards Kanniya Hot springs from Trincomalee about 2 kms to the turnoff to the well (5.8 km from the Trincomalee Town) you will come across a unique rock formation on the Anandakulama rocky mountain range.

Pahalgama archaeological site is located in Adampane area, which is about 7.5 km on the Gomarankadawala – Thiriyaya road. Although this is not a large area, it was well maintained when we visited. A preserved ruins of a stupa, a bodhighara and an image house comprise the shrine.

This archaeological site can be seen near the starting point of Yanoya Second Dam. Here you can see a collapsed stupa and the remains of an ancient Buddhist aramic complex probably belonging to the Anuradhapura era. Among these ruins can be seen polished stone slabs which may be asanagharas or flower alters, siripathul stones, koravak stones and Guardstones (muragal stones) scattered on a rocky plateau.