Velgam Viharaya
This is situated in periyakulam DS in Trincomalee.The temple was built during the reign of king Devanampiyathissa, who was one of the earliest kings of the ancient capital of Anuradhapura from 247BC to 207BC. His reign was notable for the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka under the aegis of Emperor Ashoka. Later these temple renovations have been undertaken by king bathiya l, Agbo ii, Parakramabahu 1, Vijayabahu 1.
An inscription found in the temple was written during the reign of king Bhatika tissa period of 141-165Ad. Abagana vihara is another name for velgam vihara. One of the inscriptions mentions revenue from certain fields to the vihara by the king commander Ahaya following the collapse of the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa kingdom the population migrated to the southern parts of the country.
In 993 AD With the invasion of cholas from India, many Buddhist shrines were destroyed, however velgam viharaya managed to survive unscathed. The cholas instead renovated the temple adding on structures and renamed it “Rajaraja Perumpally” after king Raajaraja Chola.
In 1929 the ruins of Velgam viharaya were discovered by the Sri Lankan archaeological department and in 1934 the site was then declared as a protected reserve.
