dematamal viharaya.

 dematamal viharaya.

The Dematamal Viharaya is located at Helagama on the Buttala-Okkampitiya road which leads to the . The temple lies about 4 km from the Buttala town. Maligawila Buddha StatuesYudaganawaYudaganapituya they met head on. Prince Gemunu got his mare to leap over the Tusker Kadol while he stuck Tissa with the back of his sward. The tusker Kadol thought "on my back is a woman, on the mare's back is a man" and dropped prince Tissa to the ground.

Located in the middle of paddy field, you can see the dark coloured Stupa and the bo-tree surrounded by the green paddy from the road itself. Though much attention is not paid by the average tourist the history of the temple complex is said to date back to the 3rd century BC.
It is believed that this is the temple that prince Tissa hid from his brother prince Gamini (some times called Gemunu, later king Dutugemunu) after a major battle for power at the location now called .
But the second battle was won by Gamini and Tissa unable to flee far, hid inside this temple knowing the brother will never violate a Buddhist temple. Prince Gamini chasing after his brother realised he was inside the temple and asked chief incumbent Ven. Gonashanka Tissa thero whether his brother was inside the temple. The thero unable to lie refused to answer the prince.
The historic Rajavaliya (The tale of the Royal Dynasty) describes this battle :

"....... Prince Gemunu again, raising afresh army set out to fight, but considering that it would not be possible to fight with the tamils if his soldiers were destroyed in fighting among themselves he sent a letter saying "Let the two of us have a fight between us and let the victor have the country". Accordingly prince Tissa mounted the tusker Kadol and the Gemunu the mare at
 

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