Unawatuna is a beach resort, located
on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. It derives its name from the Sinhalese
words, Onna-wetuna, which translates into "there it fell".
Over a period of time, Onna-wetuna became Unawatuna.
Dagoba
In later years a Buduge, or House of
Buddah, and the Swethamalee Chaitiya, or Dagoba, was built on the
hillock abutting the Devalaya, or House of Gods. Thousands of pilgrims
throng to this place of worship every month of Esala to offer poojas.
This festival is a new rice offering so most cultivators bring a share
of their crop and pray for timely rain and plentiful harvest. Some
others save a fistful of rice from their daily meal and offer that
rice, still others would purchase a few measures or even full gunnies
of rice along with coconuts to offer.
