Sithulpawwa Rajamaha Viharaya in Yala National Park

Sithulpawwa Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist monastery located in Hambantota District, South Eastern Sri Lanka. Situated 18 km east of the pilgrimage town Katharagama, it is believed to have been built in the 2nd century B.C by king Kavantissa. Sithulpawwa Vihara can be reached by travelling 18 miles along the Tissamaharama-Yodhakandiya road towards the Yala National Park. The name Sithulpawwa is derived from the word "Chiththala Pabbatha", which means the hill of the quiet mind.

This ancient monastery with a history over 2200 years was a place of worship for devotees as well as a center of Buddhist education for Buddhist monks. Paintings of the Anuradhapura era and the ruins of stone Buddha images, Bodhisathva images, Image Houses, Circular Relic Houses are spread throughout the monastery premises.

Sithulpawwa is known as a location where thousands of Arhaths lived at one time. According to folklore it is said that a novice monk called Tissa who has reached the state of Arhath lived here and later a Stupa was built encasing his remains thus this also has been known as Tissa Thera Chetiya.

The main Stupa has been built by flattening the top of a rocky mountain. There are two approaches to the Stupa. Stone steps have been cut from the south and the north. The boundary walls of the maluwa area have been built using large rocks. Remains of many buildings can be seen on the Northern side of the Stupa.

In addition to the main Sithulpawwa Stupa another hill called the ‘Small Sithulpawwa ’ also contains similar Stupa and buildings. Stupa's have been built on each peak of this rocky mountain range and all these have been built in the Pre Christian Era.

A large amount of valuable items has been found from the excavations on this site including an exclusively made image of goddess Thera in a seating position and many Buddha statues. Two Statues of the Awalokeswara Bodhisattva can be seen on the main cave temple. One of these is dressed as a royal and the other is plainly dressed as a sage.

A large number of rock inscriptions have been found throughout the Viharaya complex. All these belong to the pre Christian era and some letters in these inscriptions show localization effects compared to Inscriptions in the Anuradhapura in the same era. Some of these pre Christian inscriptions mentions two of the ‘Dasamaha Yodhayan’ (the ten giants in the Army of King Dutugemunu) called Nandimithra and Welusumana. Another giant of the ‘Dasamaha Yodhayan’ Pussadeva is also said to be from this area.

According to the great chronicle Mahavansa, King Vasaba has built 10 stupas in the Sithulpawwa (then Chiththala Pabbatha) According to stone inscriptions King Mahallaka Naga (134-146) has built stupas and donated land to the temple and the regional King Dappula of Rohana has donated the village called Gonmitigama in 659 AC. Today this village has been identified as Gonagala.