Akasa Chaitya

The history of Akasa Chaitya dates back to the times of King Dutugemunu and Kavan Tissa. It is said that several ancient temples would have been built during this period. Ancient paddy lands, stone pillars with ancient Brahmi inscriptions, drip-ledge caves inhabited by arhats relate a glorious tale of a bygone era. The British used Yala and other forested areas for game hunting. Yala was declared a National Reserve in March 1900 and game hunting came to a halt. Over the years, Yala has evolved in to a biodiversity hotspot frequented by locals and foreigners for spotting leopards, bear and the elephant.