Known yet Unknown: Archaeological Sites in the Wattala and Ja-Ela Divisional Secretariats of the Gampaha District.

By Chryshane Mendis

The localities of the Wattala and Ja-Ela Divisional Secretariats are generally considered to be least historical when compared to other localities in the country and even in the Gampaha District. Although not of great importance as some area, these localities too contain their own unique stories of history with monuments still standing to tell their tales. One would not find remarkable ruins of Palaces, Forts, Temples, and other ruins dating back hundreds of years but still these two highly populated Divisional Secretariats do contain their share of historical monuments dating to the British period and a little beyond.

Not many would know that the Wattala Divisional Secretariat contains 1 Gazetted archaeological site and another 13 archaeological monuments and the Ja-Ela Divisional Secretariat contains 4 identified archaeological monuments as identified by the Department of Archaeology in 2012.

Wattala Divisional Secretariat

The Gazetted archaeological site is the old Hall or the historic Dharma Shalawa of the Sri Sadarmarama Purana Viharaya in Thelagapatha, Wattala; and the most interesting fact is that out of the other 13 sites, 7 sites are Old houses with some being Walawas.

The Old Hall - Sri Sadarmarama Purana Viharaya, Thelangapatha

This is the only Gazetted archaeological monument in the Wattala Divisional Secretariat. The historic Dharmashalawa is found in the premises of the Sri Sadarmarama Purana Viharaya in Thelangapatha.

Route – one could reach this Viharaya by traveling from Colombo along the Colombo-Negombo road and turning right to Sri Saddarmarama Mawatha near the Oliyamulla culvert which is about 1km before the Wattala town, and traveling down this road to about 50 meters the Temple could be found on the right.

The Monument – the Dharmashalawa or the old Hall is built in the early British architectural style and is on a perfect square layout with arches and pillars around to support the massive roof with the main construction material being of Kabok or laterite. In the center of the building are 4 massive masonry columns about 10-12 feet in height supporting the roof and on each sides are 4 arched columns with a short wall of about 2 feet connecting the columns. There are 4 entrances to the hall from the 4 sides with a small wooden gate making the opening in the short wall on each side. The building is in a good state of preservation and was last conserved by the Department of Archaeology in 2005.

The Dharmashalawa

The exact date of the construction of this building is unknown but it is in records as at 1884. Apart from its old age, this building stands as a legacy to the historic developments in the Buddhist sphere in the late 19^th century known as the Buddhist Revivalist Movement. This building was the site of the Parupana Vadaya (පාරුපන වාදය) of 1884 which was a debate amoung Buddhist Monks on the 2 traditions of covering of the shoulders with the robe. The debate on these two traditions took place with the ‘Ekansha’ (ඒකාංශ) party of 9 monks under the leadership of the Ven. Ratmalane Sri Dharmaloka Thera and the ‘Ubayansha’ (උභයාංශ) party of 8 monks under the Ven. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera. Both the Ven. Ratmalane Sri Dharmaloka Thera and the Ven. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera were the great minds of the Buddhist Revival who were both the founders of the Vidyalankara Pirivena and the Vidyodaya Pirivena respectively (now the Jayawardanapura and Kaleniya Universities respectively). The present Chief incumbent, Ven. Pasgoda Vineetha Thero explained to the writer that even a monk from the Thelangapatha Viharaya took part in the debate; he has also preserved the written record of the debate and other documents relating to it including a list of the names of the Monks who participated. (One could find out more information on this debate from Ven. Pasgoda Vineetha Thera).

Interior of the Dharmashalawa

Speaking a bit more on this historic Viharaya he explained that this Viharaya comes down from the Kandyan times and that they even had a Kandyan era Buddha statue which was removed in the 1960s. Apart from the old Dharmashalawa, the Awasa geya is the other oldest structure in the premises. He further stated that there had been an old Sangyawasaya which was taken down due to its dilapidated state in recent years.

This Temple therefore contains both the tangible and nontangible heritage during a period of utmost importance to Buddhism in the country.

The 13 non Gazetted sites identified by the Department in the Wattala DS                                            

       1.      Lepers Hospital – Handela

This Hospital is believed to have been constructed for Lepers during the Dutch period and contain several old buildings including one with the Dutch Court of Arms with the date 1708. The other buildings include a Christian Church, A Vihara geya, a Dharmashalawa, the old Ward, and the old Dispensary. This leprosy Hospital is still in use and is under the Health Ministry. This site is soon to be Gazetted as a protected Archaeological monument.

Route – this could be reached down Hekiththa road from the Wattala junction.

      2.      Hamilton Canal

        This canal was constructed during the early British period connecting the Negombo Lagoon to the mouth of the Kaleni River.

      3.      Pulimathalaramaya – Magammana, Wattala

The old Dharmashalawa building is said to be constructed during the British period but no record of its construction is found. A unique feature is the single, double and triple columns with floral designs on them.

Route – this Viharaya is 60m down the Pulimathalaramaya Mawatha which is 50m passing the 7^th mile post on the Colombo-Negombo road.

    4.      Thapovanaramaya – Mabole

This Temple contains an Old Dharmashalawa and an Image house belonging to the 19^th century.

Route – this Temple could be reached on the Thapovanaramaya road which is 50m passing the Mahabage Police station on the Colombo-Negombo road.

     5.      Anthony Cooray House

An old house designed according to British architecture.

Route – 400m down Thapovanaramaya road which is 50m passing the Mahabage Police station on the Colombo-Negombo road.

     6.      Goonetilake Walawa - Mabole

This is a beautifully designed Walawa built in 1840 by E. C. Goonetilake Mudaliye. This is located bordering the Negombo road in Mabole.

    7.      Sudarma Walawa – Heenkenda

An Old house built in British architectural style.

Route – this could be found on the Ragama Heenkanda road via Horape.

    8.      Chandragiri House – Kurukulawa

An Old house built in British architectural style.

    9.      Sri Sudarshanaramaya – Horape

The Old Dharmashalawa was built in 1870 and built in the architectural styles of that period.

    10.  Handala Purana Viharaya

The Image house is an old building but which has faced renovations.

Route – this could be reached down the the Purana Vihara Mawatha from Handala junction.

    11.  Vidhane Gedara - Horape

This is over 200 years old with Dutch architectural styles. It appears to have been renovated in 1858 according to an inscription on the roof.

Route – this could be reached by traveling from Ragama on the Thuduwa road and reaching the Bandaranayaka school turn to the road on the right and traveling 600m down take another right turn and proceed 300m.

    12.  Pushparamaya – Heenkenda

The Old Awasa geya is said to be over 100 years old.

Route – this could be reached by traveling 500m on the Horape road from Ragama and from there traveling 1km down the Heenkenda road.

    13.  St. Anthony’s Church Kirimatiyagara

A tombstone dating from 1845 could be found within the church.

Route – this Church could be found 1km down the Kirimatiyagara road on the Ragama-Kadawatha road.

Ja-Ela Divisional Secretariat

The 4 non Gazetted sites identified by the Department in the Ja-Ela DS

    1.      The Walpola Weeramunda Devalaya

This old devalaya is said to be since the times of the regional King Sakala Kalawallaba but no proper archaeological evidences exists except for few stone bases.

Route – this is found about 2km down the Kandana-Ragama road.

    2.      Kunduru Gaha Wawe

This considerably large lake is said to be very old but no record exists of this.

Route – this is found about 2km down the Kandana-Ragama road.

    3.      Vimalarathnarama Vidya Niwasa Viharaya

The Old Dharmashalawa is said to be over 100 years old.

Route – this is found about 2.5km down the Kandana-Ragama road.

    4.      Rehabilitation Hospital - Ragama

An Old oven said to date to the Dutch period could be found within this Hospital premises.