Karambagala Forest Retreat

Karambagala Forest Retreat is in the Suriyawewa Divisional Secretariat. It is approached from Ambalantota after travelling a distance of 16km along the Ambalantota –Ridiyagama Road.

It is believed to be the Bilivana Vihara identified in the inscription of King Sri Meghavanna (303-331AD). The temple is also named Karandulena owing to its appearance as a relic casket when viewed from a distance.

A number of caves with Brahmi inscriptions have been discovered from the area and some of them had undergone changes and acquired new features during the present time as a result of human intervention to improve their appearance. The cave known as Kurundaka mentioned in the Visuddhimagga where a thera by name Cittagutta had resided in it for sixty years, oblivious of the existence of the painting, is believed to be in this site. The cave that could be assumed to be this same cave is having the remnants of a work of art painted in red on a layer of mortar.