Thuparamaya is the earliest documented Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka. Its building dates to the arrival of Mahinda Thera (Mahindagamanaya) and the introduction of Buddhism to the island.
The Stupa
Stone pillars around the Stupa suggest that a Vatadage with a conical roof once sheltered the Stupa at the center of the covered space
Thuparamaya Stupa and Stone Pillars
In Buddhism, a stupa is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing relics that is used as a place of meditation.
The Great Stupa of Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh, India
A stupa (chorten) in Samye, Lhasa, Tibet
Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar
Ruwanweliseya, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka