This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Description
The purpose of this octagonal stone column has not yet been fully clarified. There are several theories pertaining to its significance. In its broken state it reaches a height of about 20 feet, 4 inches. The column is said to have been erected by King Devānampiya Tissa to indicate the place where the future Ruvanveliseya would be built. A similar pillar is found at Kirinda. It has also been suggested that it is a later development of a "sila yupa," a sacrificial stone pillar used in rituals based on Hinduism. The protective roof and pillars are of modern construction.