The townspeople adored a monk and his sermons, and one devoted follower, Elliyas Fernando, wished to see the monk build a hall so he could deliver sermons to more people simultaneously. As donations poured in, the hall—named Dharma Salava—was erected.
Approaching the Salava
A relic chamber located in the middle of the Dharma Salava is encircled by smaller halls and a large drawing-room.
What to expect
Walk inside this sacred building and you will find brilliant works of art adorning the walls. The walls are covered in murals from floor to ceiling while several figurines of deities have been skilfully embossed onto the walls. For those staying at hotels in Kalutara the likes of Turyaa Kalutara, this is definitely an attraction worth your time.
History
Aluthgama Sangharatne, a Buddhist monk, visited the village of Etanamadala in the northern Kalutara District in 1873. He moved into a hermitage in the forest close to the Kalu Ganga River.
Present-day Leadership
Since 1976, Parakaduwe Saranankara has served as the temple’s head monk. He is also the leader of the Buddhist Monetary Council in Kalutara, the New Korale Buddhist Monetary Council in Colombo, and six other temples in Sri Lanka.
