5/5 SL Tour's C. 1 year ago on Google • 183 reviews
Rambadagalla
Viharaya
at
Kurunegala
–
කුරුණෑගල
රම්බඩගල්ල
විහාරය
There
are
very
few
historical
records
related
to
the
Rambadagala
temple.
Looking
at
the
original
form
of
this
temple,
it
can
be
thought
that
it
was
a
temple
built
in
the
early
Kandy
period.
However,
looking
at
the
murals
and
statues
in
the
old
vihara
house
of
this
temple,
it
is
clear
that
they
were
built
after
1850
or
early
1900.
From
these
paintings
and
sculptures,
the
style
of
Mr.
Sarlis
belonging
to
the
Colombo
period
or
the
Renaissance
period
is
clearly
seen.
Although
there
is
no
evidence
that
he
worked
in
this
temple,
it
is
clear
from
these
sculptures
and
paintings
that
his
style
has
been
completely
followed.
A
talented
artist
who
worked
in
Buddhist
temples
all
over
the
island...
An
artist
of
the
Colombo
era
(modern
era)
●
The
artist
who
pioneered
to
popularize
Buddhist
paintings
among
the
Sinhala
Buddhist
people
instead
of
the
images
of
the
British
Queen
that
were
popular
in
Sri
Lanka
during
the
colonial
period.
-
Growing
on
Piyum,
Siddhartha
Kumarotpatthiya,
Shilpa
display,
Siddha
and
Yasodara
Sarana
Mangalya,
Sivali
Maha
Arahant
are
some
of
his
creations.
●
Sarlis
artist's
paintings
can
be
found
under
two
parts.
Litho
Prints
Temple
Paintings
-
Colombo
Mali'gakanda
Temple,
I'duruwe
Yalagama
Temple,
Matugama
Panthiya
Sri
Mangala
Temple,
Pothupitiya
Purvaramaya
●
Art
influences
seen
in
his
paintings
-
Western
/
Western
naturalistic
painting
style
inspiration
Eastern
Indian
costumes
M.
was
inspired
by
the
paintings
of
the
Virgin
Mary
and
the
sacrifice
of
Jesus
drawn
by
Renaissance
painters.
Common
features
of
Sarlis's
paintings
are
good
composition,
perspective,
light-distant,
three-dimensional
features,
use
of
bright
colors,
elaborate
decoration,
western
natural
style
inspiration.
In
the
tranquil
village
of
Rambadagalla
in
Ridigama
in
the
Kurunegala
District,
a
huge
stone
sculpture
is
taking
shape.
This
is
no
ordinary
sculpture
but
one
modeled
on
the
Bamiyan
Buddha
in
Afghanistan
which
was
destroyed
by
the
Taleban
in
2001.
Why
a
replica
of
the
Barmiyan
Buddha
is
being
sculpted
in
the
Kurunegala
hillside
is
itself
a
tale
worth
relating.
It
was
in
the
aftermath
of
the
the
Taleban’s
act,
that
outraged
the
world,
that
the
agitated
village
youth
met
their
priest
demanding
that
some
action
be
taken.
Ven.
Egodomulla
Amaramoli
Thera
gave
them
a
patient
hearing
and
resolved
to
harness
the
feelings
of
the
youth.
The
next
day,
he
called
a
meeting
at
which
he
suggested
the
building
of
a
replica
of
the
Bamiyan
Buddha
in
the
village
itself
to
show
the
world
a
positive
response
to
a
tragic
act.
The
children
of
the
village,
spurred
into
action,
collected
Rs.
1,358
and
handed
it
over
to
the
Thera.
Such
were
the
beginnings
of
this
mammoth
project
–
the
building
of
a
67.5
foot
granite
statue
which
has
now
attracted
the
support
of
people
from
different
communities
and
all
walks
of
life.
Hearing
that
a
group
of
Indian
sculptors
had
just
completed
work
at
Ramboda,
the
Thera
contacted
Colombo
businessman
D.
Easwaren
who
enlisted
the
help
of
architect
R.
Sivaram
to
produce
a
blueprint.
Former
Indian
High
Commissioner
Nirupama
Rao
herself
visited
the
site
and
this
was
followed
by
a
Rs.
2.5
million
donation
from
the
Indian
High
Commission
to
the
project.
The
Rambadagalla
Buddha
statue
was
finally
completed
and
ceremoniously
opened
on
the
30th
April
2015
by
the
president
Maitreepala
Sirisena
making
this
the
largest
largest
sedentary
Buddha
Statue
carved
out
of
granite
in
the
world.
The
Rambadagalla
Vihara
is
about
25
km
from
the
Kurunegala
Town.
Travel
on
the
Kandy
Road
from
Kurunegala
up
to
Mallawapitiya
junction.
This
is
about
5km
form
the
Kurunegala
town.
Turn
off
to
Keppitigala
Road
and
Travel
another
20
km
along
this
road.
On
the
way
you
will
also
pass
Ridigama
where
the
famous
Ridi
Viharaya
is
located.
The
Rambadagalla
village
is
about
5
km
pass
Ridigama.
The
temple
is
beside
the
road
itself
as
soon
as
pass
the
village
center
of
Rambadagalla.
Special
thank
for
📜Amazing
lanak
&
📚
SL
Tours
Cab
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