This forest hermitage of medieval times and holy abode since time immemorial, home to some of the most valued fragments of early frescoes was called the Gunners Quoin by the British. This Buddhist monastery which was abandoned after the times of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa was restored to the present status in the 1950s due to the efforts of Kithalagama Sri Seelalankara Thera, who was the chief incumbent of the Vihara until his death in 1995.
This Buddhist monastery, a sacred place since time immemorial and known for its valuable early frescoes, was called the Gunners Quoin by the British. It was abandoned after the Polonnaruwa Kingdom but was restored to its current state in the 1950s thanks to Kithalagama Sri Seelalankara Thera, who served as the Vihara's chief incumbent until his death in 1995.