This may well be my favourite temple in the (south) central city. Simple, and compact without being cluttered, completely un-ostentatious. It’s basically an-anti-gangaramya. In a very small space you have all the fundamental features of a Sri Lankan Buddhist temple; a beautiful mature bodhi tree, an attractive little stupa, an image house with a well sculpted Samadhi Buddha. You’ll see the same basic features repeated and again in every temple in the country, from the enormous Anuradhapura temple complexes to the humblest forest monastery.
What makes this particular temple so attractive is its relative lack of adornment and extraneous features. Many Colombo temples have added blinding light fixtures, deafening sound systems, gleaming gilded thai-style statues and display areas for various imported relics and curios(ok mainly the Gangaramaya but others are heading in that direction). The Metharamaya, however has stuck to the basics.
While its a popular local temple, outside of the evening (6-7pm) prayer-rush its generally uncrowded and incredibly peaceful, amazingly so given its located on Lauries Road meters from the Galle Road. The floor of the image house is really a great place to gather your thoughts, as is the raised platform by the Bo-tree.
Close to the ideal form of a small city temple – great for tourists wanting to get an idea of the Sri-Lankan Buddhist faith but also excellent for Colombars, of any religion, in need of reprieve from Bamba’s bustle.
