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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XIII. 



The vast and rapid changes which progress and civilization 

 have effected since British rule in Ceylon are daily dimi- 

 nishing the labour and difficulty of accomplishing a trip to 

 these sites and scenes of an ancient and bygone civilization ; 

 while the facilities of travel afforded by railway extension 

 render the journey as easy of undertaking by the million, as 

 it once was by a favoured few. These facilities have, more- 

 over, the tendency of fostering and encouraging the spirit of 

 unrest which is manifesting itself in the most populous parts 

 of some of the Provinces of the Island, so much so, that it 

 requires, as aptly remarked by a local writer — 



no prophetic faculty to be able to picture that in a not too remote 

 future there will be found amongst the grim ruins of a bygone age 

 happy colonies emulating the industry and prosperity of the genera- 

 tions whose monuments overshadow them.* 



It is with a view of evoking greater interest in, and bring- 

 ing into more prominent notice these cities and temples, 

 which played so important a part in the history of the past, 

 but have lain buried in oblivion and forgotten by the world, 

 that I have endeavoured to prepare (mostly from existing, 

 though scattered, information) this Paper on Ydpahuwa. 

 I propose to give it the first place, and to follow it up by 

 others. 



I. — Yapahuwa. 



Ydpahuwa is situate in the Pahala-visideka Korale of the 

 Wanni Hatpattu, lies 32*20 miles to the north-east of Kurune- 

 gala,and rises 767*5 feet above the level of the sea. The shortest 

 approach to it is via the Puttalam road. Proceed 15*30 miles 

 along it, turn to the right at Padeniya,t go 11-90 miles on the 



* Census of Ceylon, 1891, Vol. I., p. 22. 



f Padeniya, a village in Dewamedi Medagandahe Korale, of the 

 Pahaladolospattu (now Dewamedi Hatpattu ), situated on the road from 

 Puttalam to Kurunegala, 43 miles east of the former place and 15*30 

 miles from the latter. The road to Siyambalagomuwa-oya, the boundary 

 of the new Uva Province, branches off at 20 miles. It has a temple 

 on a rock, G-alpita Vihare, with images and a dagoba. According to Lieut.- 

 Col. Campbell, "An old Buddhoo Temple built upon an insulated rock, from 



