Negombo’s top temple a symbol of brotherhood

Anugurukaramulla Raja Maha Viharayat, also known as Bodhirajarama Maha Viharaya, is the most important Buddhist temple in the predominantly Catholic and Muslim area.

It is situated in Temple Road about 3km from the town centre. A place of worship for both Buddhists and Hindus, some of the buildings date back over three centuries.

In the 1980s, the current temple was built with the 6m high seated Buddha statue. The largest in Negombo, it sits above the dragon’s head with mouth wide open that acts as the entrance into the shrine room.

Sleeping Buddah

Inside the temple is a statue of the sleeping Buddha where pilgrims can worship or place their offerings.

The walls and ceiling of the encircling corridor are covered with ancient murals telling stories of the Buddha’s life and other important stories from Buddhist literature.

They are explained in the small coloured guidebook which included in the LKR1,000 entrance fee.

The Image Room (Pilima Ge) contains life-size images of the Sri Lankan kings and queens from Vijaya, the 1st Sinhalese king of Sri Lanka, to Sri Wakrama Rajasinghe, the last king of the last Sri Lankan kingdom, Kandy.

Close by, outside, is the Hindu temple, Sri Siddha Suniyam, named after the powerful Sri Lankan deity Sri Siddha Suniyam.

It is believed he has a dual sided personality, being benevolent on the bright lunar fortnight and malevolent on the dark lunar fortnight.