Panama Wawevehera Rajamaha Viharaya (also known as Panama Rajamaha Viharaya and Panama Wawe Vehera Rajamaha Viharaya) and its ruins lies about five hundred meters away from the heart of the Panama, its ancient reservoir which feeds most of the areas paddy fields. Lying in a cleared patch in middle of the jungle, The cave temple has been dated to 2nd century based on the inscriptions on the drip ledge cave.
This temple along with the ancient stupas, drip-ledge cave with inscriptions and other ruins ruins of buildings has been declared as a protected archaeological site by the Government with the Gazette issued on 10th October 2014, and describes the location as follows
“Rock with archaeological ruins including hillocks covering ancient chaithyas, ruins of buildings, ponds, flight of steps, inscriptions belonging to Veherakema Buddhist Religious Center in Kunukola village Grama Niladari Division Panama South in the Divisional Secretary’s Division, Lahugala in Ampara District in Eastern Province.
