Nawagamuwa Pattini Devalaya is a historic temple situated in Nawagamuwa in Colombo

District, Sri Lanka. Considering its importance in historical, architectural and

anthropological facets, the Archaeological Department has declared the Devalaya as
an protected monument in the country.[1][2]

Nawagamuwa also inherits archeological sites that dates back to BC period as per
archaeological research conducted in the area.[3] The Devalaya is popular among the
masses for its miracles and to receive the blessings of the goddess Pattini.[1]
Also many Sri Lankan pregnant mothers go there to get a blessing from the goddess
Pattini to their unborn child.

The legend has it that King Gajabahu I (114−136) on his return from India
victoriously with 12,000 men as prisoners, also brought with him the Pattini
anklet.[3] The king built the Devalaya enshrining the Pattini anklet at a place
where he stopped to rest on his return to Anuradapuara.[3][4] A different
presentation of the legend says that the Goddess Pattini came from India with
12,000 devotees form 16 castes and settled in this area.[4] Another legend says
that it has been started by Neelaperumal Pandaram who came down from Kerala.

Verifiable historical evidence about the Devalaya emerge during the Kotte period.
[5][3][4] The area was then known as Hewagam Korale, according to Rajaveliya.[3]
Excavations around the Devale from time-to-time unearthed building materials,
wells, Dutch coins and iron implements of the Middle Ages. North of the old
Devalaya at what was known as the old landing place, coins used during the Dutch
period in Ceylon, 1554–1765, have been found.[3] Significant events took place
during Kotte Period

Archeological research has revealed that there are buildings in Nawagamuwa Devalaya
premises belonging to both the Kotte Period and the 19th century. The 19th-century
restorations and buildings were done by Katuwawala Sri Sumanatissa Thero, the chief
priest of the temple during 1813–1928.[3] After constructing the Galkanu devale,
Sri Sumanatissa Himi constructed the monks' abode or Sanghavasaya and the Vihare or
Pilimage in 1894.[3]

After the restoration of the Devalaya in the 1813–1928 period, the Devalaya has not
had any restoration until the New Millennium.[7] In 2016, nearly 100 years later,
the Devalaya went through a complete restoration, under the guidance of the
Department of Archeology. The restoration includes, wood-work using the exact type
of Jak trees (that yielded honey-sweet fruits) used by original builders, in
addition to copper sheet roofing and granite flooring. The restoration cost 30
million rupees to complete. The project was funded by the Nandana Lokuwithana
Foundation.[8] With the new renovation project, a life-size marble statue of
Goddess Paththini was brought from India to Nawagamuwa.[7] It was unveiled to the
public ceremonially on 19 August 2016