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Vilankulama Divulwewa Rajamaha Viharaya Ruins

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දාගැබ් හයක නටඹුන් සහිත විලංකුලම දිවුල්වැව රජමහා විහාරය - Vilankulama Divulwewa Rajamaha Viharaya Ruins — දාගැබ් හයක නටඹුන් සහිත විලංකුලම දිවුල්වැව රජමහා විහාරය – Vilankulama Divulwewa Rajamaha Viharaya Ruins

The devastation is immense. The number of stupas of the early Anuradhapura period in the jungles of North and East which have been excavated and destroyed are uncountable.

Vilankulama, located between Trincomalee and Kadawat Satara Divisional Secretariat, is an area full of ruins belonging to the early Anuradhapura period. Villagers who go to the forest to cut wood and collect bees’ 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. The number of stupas I could find was six and all six stupas were dug up and destroyed. Ruins of ancient buildings have also been excavated in the vicinity where it is thought that the monks lived. A few months ago, some of the ancient pillar bases had been destroyed looking for treasures.

The two water springs, which are thought to have been used by the monks, have been excavated and the stone pillars around them have been demolished, looking for non-existent treasures.

On the first day, the first stupa I observed was located in the eastern direction near the Vilankulama reservoir, at the temple called Divulwewa Rajamaha Vehera, which is headed by Venerable Aluth Oya Saddhatissa Thero, the head Sanghanayake of the Eastern Tamankaduwa division, and the secretary of the Tri-Nikhaya Bhikkhus Board. The site is near the reservoir and to travel, on the Trincomalee-Kantale road, near the 187/9 culvert, turn towards the paddy fields and go about a kilometre towards the lake.

Reverend Ellawala Medhananda Thero had reported that in the eighties, the bricks of the stupa, which was about 35 feet high and 150 feet wide, had been removed and unauthorized excavation for treasures had been carried out. .

On August 4, 1978, then District Governor D. J. Mr Bandaragoda sent a confidential letter to the Archaeological Commissioner mentioning that a bunch of marble stone fragments from Sri Lanka, which may belong to a Buddha statue, were overturned and the old stone pillars located in a few places near the mound were broken down. Two people called Sellappa Nallaiya and Eena Muttu Sami were living there and a house, a toilet, a cow shed and a barn were built atop this dagoba, which is believed to have been built in the early days of Anuradhapura.

Information on 3 more stupas around Vilankulama

The District Governor has mentioned the facts in that letter regarding three stupas around Vilankulama. On Trincomalee Kandy road next to culvert number 153/11 on the right-hand side at the head of the Vilankulama reservoir, this stupa is on the left side of the road near the 246th-kilometre post, and another dagoba is found in the forest about a mile before the Vilankulama reservoir. In his letter, he had requested to protect the stone tablet with “Naga” inscriptions and the antiquities around it as soon as possible.

He had also sent a letter to the Department of Forestry on June 8, 1979, requesting that the stupa which lies after passing the Kappalthurai intersection on the Trincomalee Kandy Road, travelling 200 meters on the cart road on the paddy field on the right side immediately after the 153/11 culvert and about 10 acres of land with the ruins of stupa and surrounding ruins which lies about one mile towards the jungle should be separated to be surveyed, separated and protected.

The positions mentioned in these two letters of the Governor are definite and the directions are somewhat questionable. Also, in the reports of Venerable Ellawala Medhananda Thero, the 153/11 culvert and the 246 kilometer post are said to be near the two roads. Although the information of three stupas were correctly mentioned by both of them at the same place, it is possible that the directions showing the locations of the stupas may have changed due to certain developments in the area over time.

The ancient bricks scattered around the old stupa mound located in the Divulwewa Rajamaha Viharaya can still be seen and the stupa should be excavated and preserved properly.

A stupa on the opposite side of the main road. there are few theek trees on it — at Vilankulama Ruins

the pagoda which is dug up at Vilankulama Tank

Bricks scattered around the dugup stupa - Ruins around Vilankulama

Also See

Map of Vilankulama Divulwewa Rajamaha Viharaya

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Vilankulama Divulwewa Rajamaha Viharaya Driving Directions

From Trincomalee to Vilankulama Divulvewa Rajamaha Viharaya

Via :
Total Distance : 12 Kms
Duration : 15 Minutes
Travel Time : Around 30-60 Minutes
Driving Directions : View on Google Map

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