Kathaluwa Ranwella Temple - II

 

Kathaluwa Ranwella Temple - I

Kathaluwa Ranwella and Giniwella temples are twin temples in adjoining sites. It appears to be that they have started as a single temple in 1820s by Bulathgama Sri Sumanathissa Dhammalankara Thera and were later split due to sectorial disputes between the Asgiri and Amarapura Chapters. Giniwella temple is today known as Nawamuni Vihara. 

Ranwella temple exhibits the first (or one of the earliest) Sinhala press in Sri Lanka. The British made letter press was a donation by the then king Chulalongkorn (locally pronounced Chulalankara) of Thailand. It was located in Paramananda Viharaya in Galle during its operational life and was used to print the country’s first Buddhist Publications Lankalokaya and the Lakmini Pahana till 1910. The first print of the Lankalokaya was printed on 10th September 1860 and the Lakmini Pahana was started on 11th September 1862. The first editors of the press were Bulathgama Siri Dammalankara Thero and Dodanduwe Piyarathana Thero. Lankalokaya is considered as the first (or one of the earliest) Sinahala news paper / news letter.

Octagonal Image House - This is an unusual form for a Buddhist temple images house in Sri Lanka.

Priests' residence

Press - The library block that housed the press caught fire (some suspected it was an arson) some time back. This plaque commemorate the refurbishment work done with the contributions from the Thai embassy.

Original press after refurbishments

"Lankalokaya" news paper

It appears to be that following elements are shared by the two temples. This area can be accessed from both temples. Though there are gated walls, the gates are open. 

Stupa - It is interesting to see that 'Thorana' structure state this as a 'Mausoleum' in English. 

Bo tree ('Bodhigara')

Another buildign which we did not visit

Location 8 -  Ranwella Temple,Kathaluwa

Photos - Author

Building Livable Cities 2010

It is evident that India is slowly but steadily started the dialog on urban sustainability and now the livability iitself. who would have thought this 10 years back. Most people then, would have in fact taken India as the proof of impossibility of such things in this part of the world.

Building Livable Cities is a multi city investigation on ideas that can make Indian cities Livable. This year theme is Environmental Sustainability. As part of the initiative , The EcoCities India symposiums will take place in 5 cities – Bangalore , Mumbai , Delhi , Chennai ,and Ahmedabad between Oct 18-22. The “Urban Visioning“Program titled the Blueprint featuring the urban visions of a number of leading Indian architects will be showcased at the symposiums. The outcome will be presented in a book where a call for contribution was announced. The series will also be podcasted.

Building Livable Cities 2010: Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai
Link 

Kathaluwa Poorwarama Viharaya, Galle - IV

Kathaluwa Poorwarama Viharaya, Galle - III