- Area: Sri Lanka
- Type: Attractions
- Group: Buddhism Kandyan era Vihara
Eraminigammana Sri Susilaramaya is an ancient temple going to the era of the Kandyan Kingdom lying close to Hemmathagama in the Kegalle district. The temple consists of two historical buildings, one is the old Bana Maduwa (preaching hall) and the other is the ancient Tampita Viharaya.
A Tampita Viharaya is a structure built on a wooden platform that rests on a number of stone stumps usually 3-4 feet tall. The roof is held by a structure built of timber and the walls are generally made of wattle and daub. Walls inside the chamber are more or less always covered in paintings drawn mainly in Kandyan style.
The Tampita Viharaya at this temple is built on 20 granite stumps about 2½ feet tall. There is an open circumambulating path built around the image house with no railing or protection. A Mandapa was built in front of the temple. Both roofs are tiled with Calicut tiles.
Both the inner wall and the outer wall of the image house is covered in frescoes. It is said that these paintings show styles that go to periods before the Kandyan styles. Unfortunately, most of these paintings as well as the viharaya structure are highly deteriorated due to neglect.
To reach the temple from Mawanella, take the Hemmathagama road from the old Mawanella road and travel for 12 km passing Devanagala and Kuda Oya bridge and taking the left turn towards Susilarama Viharaya from Aludeniya Junction. The temple lies at the end of this road, about 900 meters from the junction bordering Kuda Oya.
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