What was once a swamp adjoining the famous Beira
Lake, a landmark in the capital city, is today a vibrant complex
comprising the Gangaramaya temple, the ‘seema malaka’ – an assembly hall
for monks – in the picturesque Beira Lake and a vocational training
institute. The temple has been in existence for over 120 years having
being established by one of the most famous scholar monks, Venerable
Hikkaduwe Sri Sumanagala Nayaka Thera, founder of the Vidyodaya
Pirivena, originally an institute of oriental learning for monks, now a
State University – Sri Jayewardenapura University.
He appointed his chief pupil, Devundera Sri
Jinaratana Nayake Thera to administer the temple. He laid the foundation
to convert the small temple to what it is today – an institution of
international reckoning. He made Buddhist texts available to the masses,
collected Buddhist artifacts, in addition to the normal facilities for
devotees to worship.
When Devundera Vacissara Nayaka Thera succeeded him,
further expansion of the temple’s activities was undertaken including
the establishment of the Sri Jinaratana Vocational Centre in memory of
his teacher monk.
Architecture
The temple's architecture demonstrates an eclectic mix of Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian, and Chinese architecture.
This
Buddhist temple includes several imposing buildings and is situated not
far from the placid waters of Beira Lake on a plot of land that was
originally a small hermitage on a piece of marshy land. It has the main
features of a Vihara (temple),
the Cetiya (Pagada) the Bodhitree, the Vihara Mandiraya, the Seema
malaka (assembly hall for monks) and the Relic Chamber. In addition, a
museum, a library, a residential hall, a three storeyed Pirivena,
educational halls and an alms hall are also on the premises.
Most notable for tourists is the architecture of the Simamalaka
Shrine, which was built with donations from a Muslim sponsor to the
design of Geoffrey Bawa.
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