Ruwanweli Seya means gem sand. This dagaba or sthupa is a dome or relic chamber which is build over sacred relics of the Buddha. The construction of this dagaba was prophesied by Mahinda himself. When King Tissa erected a tall stone pillar for the future building King Dutugemunu decided to build this great thupa on this site. He had consulted several master builders and chose the best out of the submitted tenders. The building was started on the full moon day of May 144B.C. The foundation of Ruwanweli Seya was made of butter clay imported from India ; which was used as cement. Then bricks, rough cement, gum and mountain, crystal were lard with a net work of iron. The foundation was finally plated in copper and then silver the saddert part told by the chronicle is that the King fell sick with a sickness that was to be mortal before the work was completed. Dutugemunu sent for his younger brother Suddha Tissa to complete the work before he died. Because of his brothers weakness Saddha Tissa had a covering made of white cloth by seamstress and therewith was the dome covered. There after he commanded painters to make on it a Buddhist railing and he had the upper portion made of bamboo reeds and he had this thupa painted cunningly with lacquer and imitation gold lying on a palanquin the King was brought to see it and when he beheld the splendid Maha Thupa he became glad at heart that his wish was fulfilled before his death. Later the Thupa was completed by Saddatissa
