Lankapatuna

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Lankapatuna is where Princess Hemamala and her husband Prince Dantha landed ashore with the sacred Tooth Relic during the reign of King Kirthi Sri Meghavarna. However during the 30 years of civil war the LTTE terrorists destroyed all the remains of the original temple and used it as a radio transmission tower leaving only the ancient pool and the ruined stone stairway.

After ending the war in 2003 the current temple was built under the guidance of Ven Ellawala Medhananda thero. There have been other ruins discovered including destroyed epigraphs and balustrades. The current temple consists of a Dagoba built on a raised pavilion, a standing Buddha statue, a shrine and statues of Princesses Hemamala and Prince Dantha. From the top of the rock it also provides amazing views of the cove shaped beach.

According to the historical records after receiving the sacred tooth relic King Kirthi Sri Meghavarna, also known as Sirimeghavanna or Kithsirimevan took it to Anuradhapura and enshrined it at Meghagiri Vihara which is known as Isurumuniya in the present day. Since then protecting and preserving the Sacred Tooth Relic became of the the main duties of any ruler of Sri Lanka.