The Devol Devale, generally known as the Seenigama Devale, is situated on an islet about 200 metres offshore from Seenigama, just past the 96th kilometre-post. It is the shrine of the deity Devol, who has aspects of both a god and of a demon. People visit the shrine to worship the god, but also to ward off curses and to curse others.
Devol Devale Seenigama: the causeway is visible on the right (Vinod Moonesinghe)
The shrine may be 1300 years old, and may originally have been a shrine to the goddess Pattini (Devol is said to be her younger brother). However, historical records and structural evidence indicate an age of about 300 years. It is possible that the older shrine was destroyed by the Portuguese.
The shrine was once on the mainland. However, coastal erosion isolated it from the shore. As recently as the 1930s, the shrine could be reached by pedestrians along a narrow causeway, but that too has been eroded and the devale may now only be approached by boat.
Devol Devale from the causeway (Vinod Moonesinghe)
The island has a fresh-water well. The shrine contains a stone for grinding pepper (a miris gala). This stone is used in cursing and warding-off rituals.
Another shrine has been built on the shore opposite the island, beside the Galle Road. The wall dividing it from the road has been equipped with coin boxes, into which passers-by may make monetary offerings (panduru).
Every year, there is a procession in honour of the deity, a Devol Perahera through the hamlet to the Seenigama temple and then along the Galle Road to the Totagamuwa Vihara and back to the onshore shrine.
Part of the Seenigama Devol Perahera (Vinod Moonesinghe)
- Vinod Moonesinghe