ARCHITECTURE IN SRI LANKA

3rd century-present day

I. INFLUENCES

A. Geographical

~ island in the Indian Ocean, south of India

~ historically, a center of international trade due to its strategic position on the
west to east routes and fine harbors
~ Kandy - capital

B. Geological

~ wide variety of materials (stone): granite, limestone, laterite and sandstone

~ clay for making bricks, roof tiles: widely used in the west district
~ timber, bamboo, grasses: thatch and decor
~ coconut trees: posts and roofs
~ teak: dry areas
~ topography used to enhance architectural effects e.g. tanks, round rock
outcrops, cities and palaces on hill and high rock

C. Climatic

~ three climatic zones:

- dry hot zone - N and E, building of irrigation tanks to conserve rain
water
- wet zone - central
- hot – wet zone - S; heavy rainfall and high humidity; solid-walled
building; wide protecting eaves and verandas; steeply pitched roofs
 D. Historical and Social

~ throughout 2,500 years of its recorded history, there was a continuous stream
of evidence from both native and foreign sources

~ Three significant periods:

a. Anuradhapura - (14th century B.C. – 10th century A.D.)
- foundations for political, social and artistic traditions
were laid
- city built in and around an immense rock hill
(Sigiriya)
b.Polonnaruwa - (11th – 13th century)
- invasions and occupations which brought about the
transfer of the capital to Polonnaruwa
- city (palaces, monasteries, temples, park sand
irrigation works) which was the principal undertaking
was reduced to ruin from contact foreign attacks
c.Kandyan - (15th – 19th century)
- division into several kingdoms
- foreign ( Porugese, British, Dutch) occupations until 1974
independence
- introduced to various (Renaissance, Baroque, Colonial)
styles

E. Religious

~ a.k.a. “dharma-dipa” (island of the Buddhist doctrine)

~ Tamils (Hindu origin), Moors, Malayan, Moslems and Christians (most
influential minority

II. ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER

• Anuradhapura period
- use of moulded and dressed stone plinths
- pillars and lintels indicating a framed structural system
- square and octagonal capitals were socketed into the top which were of
plain hexagonal vase shape
- sensitivity towards natural landscape

• Polonnaruwa period
- expansion of the temple to enshrine colossal Buddha images with its
corridors for processions
- wata-da-ge (circular relic house) built of stone and brick

• Kandyan period
- typical wooden architecture (indigenous)
- highly-pitched roofs with slightly curved eaves, lacquered wood bars,
carved timber doorways, painted terra cotta bas reliefs
- modified Doric columns, true arches and half round Roman/Spanish
roof tile
III. EXAMPLES

• Anuradhapura period

- Thuparama Dagaba, Anuradhapura (teeth)

- originally cone shaped restored to am bell shape
- columns around the mound- supported the roofs that is
made of thatch
- 4 concentric rows of columns of receding height
- oldest Buddhist structure

- Ruwanveliseya Dagaba

- Monastery of Mihintale : Naga Pokuna (snake bathing pool)

- Reservoir of Kalawewa

- Sigiriya – rock fortress palace developed into a splendid city

• Polonnaruwa period

- Alahana Monastery, Polonnaruwa

- Lankatelleke Temple

- Gal Vihara Rock Temple -Buddhist temple

- height- 22 feet, 9 inches

• Kandyan period

- Embekke Temple

- The Palace, Kandy

 - Dalada Maligawa – contained a tooth of Buddha

= Sri Lankan Architecture- influenced by religion particularly Buddhism