Galgodiyana island, Matara

Galgodiyana island, Matara

    Galgodiyana is an island off Matara lying less than 200 m off the land. It is about 500 m off the popular Polhena beach and 11 km from Mirissa. A ruined stupa built in Thai architecture tradition and a mysterious stone arch are the main attraction of this island.

    The history of the ruins of this island goes back to 120 years. A prince named "Prisdang" of Siam (now Thailand) had joined the priesthood in Sri Lanka taking up the name Jinawansa thero as a student of Waskaduwe Sri Subuthi thero and moved to the Galagodiyana island for his meditation. Before joining the priesthood, he was educated in England and served as an ambassador for a number of European countries on behalf of the monarch of Siam. He has fallen out with the Siam monarch and reached Sri Lanka in 1896.

    During his stay, the villagers of Paramulla had provided the meals to Jinawansa thero who had been called "Kumara Hamuduruwa" (Prince thero). The villagers had also built a path across the sea to the island using rocks. Some parts of this path have been washed away now.

    Jinawansa thero has designed the stupa with entrances from four directions and the other buildings on the island according to the Siamese (Thai) tradition.

    Galgodiyana is an island off Matara lying less than 200 m off the land. It is about 500 m off the popular Polhena beach and 11 km from Mirissa. A ruined stupa built in Thai architecture tradition and a mysterious stone arch are the main attraction of this island.

    The history of the ruins of this island goes back to 120 years. A prince named "Prisdang" of Siam (now Thailand) had joined the priesthood in Sri Lanka taking up the name Jinawansa thero as a student of Waskaduwe Sri Subuthi thero and moved to the Galagodiyana island for his meditation. Before joining the priesthood, he was educated in England and served as an ambassador for a number of European countries on behalf of the monarch of Siam. He has fallen out with the Siam monarch and reached Sri Lanka in 1896.

    During his stay, the villagers of Paramulla had provided the meals to Jinawansa thero who had been called "Kumara Hamuduruwa" (Prince thero). The villagers had also built a path across the sea to the island using rocks. Some parts of this path have been washed away now.

    Jinawansa thero has designed the stupa with entrances from four directions and the other buildings on the island according to the Siamese (Thai) tradition.

    Galgodiyana is an island off Matara lying less than 200 m off the land. It is about 500 m off the popular Polhena beach and 11 km from Mirissa. A ruined stupa built in Thai architecture tradition and a mysterious stone arch are the main attraction of this island.

    The history of the ruins of this island goes back to 120 years. A prince named "Prisdang" of Siam (now Thailand) had joined the priesthood in Sri Lanka taking up the name Jinawansa thero as a student of Waskaduwe Sri Subuthi thero and moved to the Galagodiyana island for his meditation. Before joining the priesthood, he was educated in England and served as an ambassador for a number of European countries on behalf of the monarch of Siam. He has fallen out with the Siam monarch and reached Sri Lanka in 1896.

    During his stay, the villagers of Paramulla had provided the meals to Jinawansa thero who had been called "Kumara Hamuduruwa" (Prince thero). The villagers had also built a path across the sea to the island using rocks. Some parts of this path have been washed away now.

    Jinawansa thero has designed the stupa with entrances from four directions and the other buildings on the island according to the Siamese (Thai) tradition.