This Sri Lanka's oldest monastery (Buddangala) is situated in a mountain over 500 feet high. The Dagoba has been enshrined with the relics of Buddha and his two leading monks Seriyuth and Mugalan's remains. King Saddatissa (brother of Great king Dutugemunu) expanded this monastery. In 1964, a lone Buddhist monk named Dhammananda from Kalutara arrived in this ruined monastery. He cleared the jungle around Dagoba, and the image house. He cleaned the caves where the Arahant monks were meditating before so that new monks can live in them. From the meditating caves one can see the paddy fields of Akkaraipattu, which the Sinhalese farmers no longer have the access or the security to work in. Also in the breath taking view is the Rassagala Mountain. Despite all the difficulties, 12 Buddhist monks continue to live and meditate in the caves.