This vihara is situated 0.5 km along Nadun Vihara road, which takes off 1 km along the Kiriella-Karandana road in the Kiriella town situated along Ratnapura-Panadura road.

Ven. Mahagalgamuwe Ganninnanse Thera, a member of the company of Silwat monks, is the founder of this vihara. After the construction of the tempita vihara (temple on columns) out of Nadun timber by Ven. Karandana Devarakkhita Thera, this shrine, came to be known as Nadun vihara.

There are three shrine rooms, two of which have been constructed during the Kandy period. Some of the most beautiful paintings of the Kandy period can be seen in these two viharas. The line drawings in the paintings depict the originality of the painters. The seated Buddha image under the Makara Torana is considered an unusual sculpture. Ven. Devarakkhita Thera, who was a well-known scribe of the scriptures, famous for his beautiful ola writing, won the admiration of King Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe by translating the Pali Majjhima Nikaya into Sinhala. He was honoured by a grant of a village by a Sannasa (copper plate), which testified the donation of the village of Dumbara, 8,355 acres in the extent to Nadun vihara. The Sannasa itself is considered a unique document as it has been attested by the Prime Minister setting out the boundaries of Dumbara village before it was granted to the monk.

A pair of elephant tusks measuring 8'7" with a girth of 18" found here are considered the largest available in Sri Lanka. At present, the trustee of Sri Pada is the chief of this vihara.

( Heritage of Sabaragamuwa by Dr. H.A.P. Abeyawardana P20 )

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Nedun Rajamaha Viharaya Kiriella

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