South Asia’s longest Buddha statue in Ambalangoda

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

Shailathararamaya The Buddha statue

Since Anuradhapura era various types of statues were built in Sri Lanka, like Samadhi, Aukana and Sasseruwa.

Recently I was very fortunate when I got the opportunity to view the longest Buddha statue in South Asia right here in Sri Lanka, situated three kilometres from Ambalangoda.

When you go along the Ambalangoda-Elpitiya road, you could see the temple Shailathararamaya on a hillock with a pathway of 225 steps leading up.

The history dates back to the Dambadeniya period, when Devapathiraja Senavi of Dambadeniya was looking out for va antage point to observe enemy ships, and stumbled on to this place which was supposed to be the best. There was no temple at that time in this place, but was built later during the Kandy period.

After King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe’s reign there was a competition among some to make huge Buddha statues. Iyonis Upasaka, one of the richest men from Ambalangoda also had desire of making one.

In this pursuit he went to Kusinarawa to study salient features of the Parinibbana statue of the Buddha. On his return he searched for a finest artist and eventually found him in Anuradhapura, to create the longest statue in South Asia.

The prescribed length was 118 feet, and it turned out to be a masterpiece, which clearly defines the lively features of Lord Buddha.

The incumbent chief monk of the Shilathararamaya, Ven. Magala Somananda thera said “When I took over this temple as the chief monk, the temple was in a very bad condition. With the help of villagers, Sri Lankan and foreign visitors I have started with some repairs and if we find the necessary funds, we might be able to reconstruct the statue completely.”

Pix Harald Indika.