Ras Vehera (Sesuruwa) Buddha Statue-Kurunagala,Sri Lanka

 

This is a colossal statue of Buddha lying close the famous Awkana statue, but not as popular. This statue is called Ras Vehera as well as Sasuruwa (or Sas-seruwa). The height of this statue is recorded as 39 feet 3 inches but according to the chief priest there its height is 42 feet 4 inches. The statue depicts the Abhaya Mudra (freedom from fear). Like the Awkana the robe of the Buddha is clinging to the body but the final finish doesn’t seem to have been done. 

The pedestal on which the Buddha is carved is not decorated and it is only a square block of stone. One ear is also unfinished. All this indicate that this statue was never fished for a unknown reason. According to chronicles The King Mahasen (276-303 AD) who ruled from Anuradhapura has built a statue called "Rahera" statue at the base of the "Rahera" cliff. It is thought that Ras Vehera is this statue and after his death the work on the site has also halted. This statue also lacks the "Siraspatha" at the top of the head which is seen in the Awkana statue. But it is said that there has been a wooden "siraspatha" in early days. There also has been a housing structure around the statue for protection as the rock in which the statue is carved is fairly soft. All this has been destroyed during the North Indian Tamil invasion (of Kalinga Maga).

Arankele Forest Monastery - Kurunagala

If you are looking for a haven of peace and quietude - why not spend the day at Arankele. Its green sylvan surroundings will relax and refresh you completely.
But this was never meant to be a pleasure park. On the contrary it was the site of an ancient forest monastery - the austere abode of a sect of recluse monks who had been attracted to this site because of its very isolation and seclusion. Today it is a celebrated archaeological site containing the ruins of the ancient forest monastery.
The monks who dwelt here were called Pansukulika. Pansukulika means 'rag-robes' and refers to a vow taken by these monks to wear only robes made from rags. They observed extreme austerity and they lived in caves and in monasteries in mountains and forests and their piety and austere way of life were greatly admired by the people.

VEDDHAS IN SRI LANKA

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The term Vadda must have derived form the Pali and Sanskrit word Vddha meaning hunter or huntsman.According to Wilhelm Geiger Vaddas of Sri Lanka were an aboriginal tribe perhaps related to the ancient tribes of south India. They were inhabiting the island long before the coming of Aryans an had spread all over the island and later confined only to Vadi rata or Maha Vadi rata consisting of areas from Hunnasgiriya hills and lowlands spreading through Mahiyanganaya, Alutnuwara, Vellassa, Bintenne, Digamadulla, Vasgamuwa, Dimbilagala, Manampitiya, Nilagala, Toppigala, Panama, Dambana etc. up to the sea in the east. They spoke a non Aryan language a small number of words of which survive up to the present day. With the coming of Aryans gradually they learnt a number of Aryans words and with time words of their own dialect became rare owing to the spread of education and encroachment of civilization over the areas occupied by them.

SINHARAJA RAINFOREST - SRI LANKA

    Sinharaja (vergin rain forest of Sri Lanka)

        Sinharaja forest reserve is one of the least disturbed and biologically unique lowland rain forest in Sri lanka. This forest covers an extent of about 11187 hectares from east to west .The length of the forest is about 21km and width from North to South is about 3.7km.It was declared a Man and Biosphere Reserve (MAB) in 1978,as representative of tropical humid evergreen forest Eco system in Sri Lanka and has been recognized by UNESCO as part of it’s International Network of Biosphere reserves. It was declared a National wilderness area in 1988 and lately a world heritage site in 1989.It is situated in the southwest lowland wet zone of the country in the districts of Ratnapura, Galle and Matara. The average annual temperature of Sinharaja is 23.6 C. Annual rainfall is more than 2500mm.The rain fall is well distributed during two monsoons, May to July and October to December.

DAMBULLA CAVE TEMPLE - SRI LANKA

Dambulla cave temple

also known as the Golden Temple. Dambulla is a World Heritage Site (1991) in Sri Lanka, situated in the central part of the country. This site is situated 148 km east of Colombo and 72 km north of Kandy. It is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The rock towers 160 m over the surrounding plains. There are more than 80 documented caves in the surrounding area.