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The Portuguese, after their arrival in Sri Lanka in 1505, began a campaign of forced conversion and destruction of many Buddhist and Hindu temples around the island. They destroyed the Munneswaram temple completely in 1578 CE with the exception of the basement, and used the core of the building as a Roman Catholic chapel .
The exact date of the Ketheeswaram temple's birth is not universally agreed upon. [5] According to historian Paul Peiris, Thirukketheswaram was one of the five recognized Ishwarams of Siva in Lanka long before the arrival of Vijaya in 600 B.C. [1] The shrine is known to have existed for at least 2400 years, [1] with inspirational and literary evidence of the postclassical era ( 600BC ...
Ridi Viharaya (Sinhala: රිදී විහාරය) or Silver Temple is a 2nd-century BCE Theravada Buddhist temple in the village of Ridigama, Sri Lanka. [2] [3] Built during the reign of Dutthagamani of Anuradhapura, the temple is considered as the place where the silver ore, which provided silver to complete Ruwanwelisaya; one of the largest stupa in Sri Lanka, was discovered.
The Temple complex is considered to have been built by King Devanampiyatissa (307–267 BC) and one of the oldest Buddhist temple complexes in the country. Later for various reasons this complex was forgotten and by the time of king Sirisangabo this was covered with jungle.
The Koneswaram temple, located in Trincomalee, is one of the most revered Hindu temples in Sri Lanka. On April 14, 1622, during the Tamil New Year, the Portuguese destroyed the temple in a brutal attack. The Portuguese general Constantino de Sá de Noronha led the assault, with soldiers disguising themselves as Iyer priests to gain entry.
The history of Magul Maha Vihara possibly dates back to the period of King Kavantissa (205-161 BC) who ruled the Kingdom of Ruhuna in ancient Sri Lanka. There is evidence that suggests that the king built this temple in the 2nd Century BC at the exact location where he married the princess Viharamahadevi, the daughter of king Kelani Tissa.
Sri Lanka has had a history of conflict between its minority Hindu Tamils and majority Sinhalese Buddhists since its political independence from Great Britain in 1948 which led to the Sri Lankan Civil War. Since the 1950s Sinhalese Buddhists have claimed that the Tirukoneswaram temple was originally exclusively a Buddhist temple.
Pidurangala Vihara (Sinhala: පිදුරංගල විහාරය) is an ancient Buddhist temple situated in Pidurangala village of Matale District, Sri Lanka. The temple was constructed on a massive rock called Pidurangala, which is located a few kilometers north of the historical fort Sigiriya .