. 29. The ancient Pohoya Geya with Image house belonging to the Malwatta Pohoyamalu Vihara premises situated in Kandy city in the No. 254, Malwatta Grama Niladhari Division in the Gangawata Koralaya Divisional Secretary’s Division, Kandy District, Central Province The site was designated as an Archaeological Protected Monument by Government Gazette notification. No: 1677 published on 22 October 2010.

Malwathu Maha Viharaya (also called Malwatta temple) is a Buddhist monastery located in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is the headquarters of the Malwatta Chapter of Siyam Nikaya and one of the two Buddhist monasteries that hold the custodianship of the sacred tooth relic of Buddha kept in Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy. The chief incumbent of the Malwathu Maha Viharaya is the Mahanayaka thero of the Malwatta Chapter of Siyam Nikaya, a leading Buddhist monastic fraternity in Sri Lanka.

This temple is believed to be built by Senasammatha Vickramabahu (1473-1511) and a stupa and a double-storey ordination hall (Uposhathagaraya) in the late 15th century or early 16th century. It was originally built as the residence of three monks. Still, today it houses many Buddhist monks, including the monks of Karaka Sangha Sabha (executive council) of the Malwatta Chapter of Siyam Nikaya. The building known as ‘poya ge’ is used as the assembly hall for the crucial meetings of the monastic fraternity. This building was built during the reign of King Kirti Sri Rajasinha of Kandy.

Malwathu Maha Viharaya consists of two sections, the Uposatha Viharaya, known as ‘Poyamalu Viharaya’ and the other Pushparama Viharaya, popularly known as Malwathu Viharaya.

Poyamalu Viharaya is the oldest section of the Vihara complex, which is today recognized as an archaeologically protected monument.

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Pohoyamalu Vihara (Uposatha Vihara)

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