The Sri Vishnu Maha Dewala located at Devinura (Deundara) in the southern tip of Sri Lanka is considered to be one of the oldest temples built in this country. This temple was built for the purpose of Upulvan, who is believed to protect Buddhism in the country. According to past documented sources, the Devinuwara Raja Maha Vihara and the temple were built in the 7th century by King Dappula the first.[1] Later in the 16th century (1587)[2] the Portuguese destroyed this temple and the old city of Deundara, and King Rajasingha II of the Mahanuwara Kingdom (1635 – 1687) again made arrangements to restore this temple.[3] The ruins of the old temple destroyed by the Portuguese can be seen near the temple site today.
Dewandara, which was a part of the old Rohana Kingdom, is located 1 km
37
from Matara. m. 8 away. This place, located at the southern tip of the island, is mentioned in historical sources from the 7th century. In ancient sources this is referred to as “Devanagara”. The Mahavamsa mentions that W. In 657 Dappula, the independent ruler of Rohana, built a temple in Devanagara. King Dappula has made Devinuwara a regional kingdom and has ruled this area.