Architecture of Sri Lanka
Open-knowledge reference entry
The architecture of Sri Lanka displays a rich variety of architectural forms and styles. Buddhism has had a significant influence on Sri Lankan architecture, since it was introduced to the island in the 3rd century BCE.
Traditionally, Chinese and Indian architecture have been the most significant forms of foreign influence on Sri Lankan architecture and both have played a prominent role in shaping it. Architectural influences from Southeast Asia have also influenced the development of Sri Lankan architecture and vice versa. Techniques and styles developed in Europe, transported to the country via colonialism, also played a major role in the architecture of Sri Lanka later on. Many buildings survive from the Dutch and British period of occupation.
Ancient architecture
Cave temples
The earliest evidence of cave temples is found in the temple complexes of Mihintale. A unique feature in these caves was the use of a drip ledge carved along the top edge of the rock ceiling which stopped rainwater running into the cave. With time, doors, windows and walls of brick or stone were added. The roof and walls were plastered white and finished with decorative paintings, these are evident in the cave temples of Dambulla. Chipped material of the rock packed underneath the clay-finished floor.
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This entry incorporates text from “Architecture of Sri Lanka” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.