Velgam Vehera

Velgam Vehera is an ancient Buddhist shrine, located about 14km north-west of Trincomalee next to the Trincomalee – Horowupothana road. The temple was built by King Devanampiya Tissa in about 240 BC. It was renovated by many kings – King Bhatiya Agbo VI, Vijayabahu I and Maha Parakramabahu. Finally it was renovated by Tamil Buddhists who emigrated from South India. It was declared as an archaeological reserve in 1934. The excavations revealed some evidence of a stupa in ruins and a brick image house. The architecture of the Velgam Vehera belongs to both the Anuradhapura and the Polonnaruwa period. Furthermore, the excavations proved that the original image house had been restored by the Cholas, who imposed their own architecture influence (South Indian). A 2-metre Buddha image made of limestone and with finely modelled features was dug out from the bottom of a cistern which had apparently been built to contain drainage water. The statue had been at the bottom completely covered with earth and debris.