After the end of the LTTE, there has been a tendency to claim all ancient Buddhist archaeological sites in the Northern and the Eastern provinces to build Hindu Kovils fumed by racist Tamil Politicians. Number of huge Araliya trees (Temple trees) which looks about 100 years old tells that this site has been occupied by priests at the turn of 20th century and of a Buddhist community around the temple.Īccording to article in June 2019, a number of artifacts at this site had been destroyed and some large Moonstones, Guard stones and Korawakgal (balustrades) has been stolen recently by Hindu Extremists. About 150 feet of length of a wall running around the platform can be traced today.Ī stone pillar with a folk at the top measuring 7 feet 4 inches is a curious artifact at the site indicating existance of more artistic buildings in the vicinity. Part of a seated Buddha statue and a stone flower alter now lies near this stupa mound.
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The ground has been paved in stone slabs. This mound measures 150 feet in circumference and 8 feet in height. It has been dug from the top multiple times in search of valuable treasures in the relic chamber. This stupa too has faced the same fate of other ancient stupas in the hands of treasure hunters. Ellawala Medhananda Thero is no longer found at the site, probably destroyed by treasure hunters or carried away by extremist elements.Ībout 50 yards east of the Image House is a stupa now resembling a mound of earth. The 6.5 feet stone Buddha statue reported by Ven. An unfinished stone door frame, some pillars and a foundation can be seen in front of the image house. According to tradition, this statue has been brought here from a near by Buddhist archaeological site known as Kolongolla. The folds of the robe of the statue resembles the Awkana Buddha statue, though small in size. The statue is 6.5 feet tall and has a pleasing appearance. At one end of the building stands an ancient Buddha Statue on a recently made pedestal. Two rows of 8.5 feet high stone pillars suggests a large ancient image house. The ruins at the site spreads an area of about 15 acres.
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In this context, Maduwa means Mandapaya (platform) giving the meaning Gold Platform for Ran Manduwa. Ellawala Medhananda Thero has identified this temple as the Ran Maduwa Viharaya. The procession had briefly rested at this site and the relic deposited in a specially built hall and one of the ruined buildings at the site is still called the Dalada Maligawa (relic house).
![sri lanka map vavuniya sri lanka map vavuniya](https://lankaland.lk/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/kurunagala_bmv.jpg)
According to legend, the tooth relic of Buddha was brought to Sri Lanka from the port of Lankapatuna in Trincomalee and the procession had traveled though Sapumalgaskada on its way to Anuradhapura. Ruins found at Sapumalgaskada is one such ancient aramic complex now lying in middle of the virgin shrub jungle off Kalebogaswewa. Due to 30+ years of ethnic cleansing of Tamil Tiger Terrorists supported by Tamil politicians, Buddhist villages which supported few monks in some of these temples also have disappeared. After the defeat of the LTTE in 2009, this area has seen a massive development in the infrastructure and facilities enabling any Sri Lankan to travel and visit any area.Īlong with this freedom to access these forbidden jungles, ruins of hundreds of ancient Buddhist sites hidden in the jungles of Mullaitivu District, Vavuniya District, Mannar District and Kilinochchi District have been discovered by the Army. The northern part of Sri Lanka was inaccessible to the Sri Lankans for over 30 years due to the LTTE terrorists controlling the most of this area. The large Stupa mound at the Ancient Sapumalgaskada Buddhist Monastery in Vavuniya