Dambulla

Dambulla is a heritage site of the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka. The significant heritage here is the five caves of living rock with murals and sculptures. The pre-Brahmi inscriptions belonging to the third century BC and the murals of the eighteenth century reflect human activities over a long period. In 1991, this was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. From 1982 up to 1998 mural conservation was done by the Dambulla Project of the Central Cultural Fund.

The Dambulla Project that functions as the only research centre into murals and the headquarters of mural conservation maintains the only mural museum of Sri Lanka. In addition, mural conservation of surrounding temples is done by this Project centred on the Dambulla cave temple.