Okanda is a tiny hamlet on Sri Lanka’s eastern shore at the Kumana National Park’s formal entrance. Just before Kumana’s ticket office, a tiny path to the ocean will bring you on a rocky outcrop on the beach to the Okanda Devalaya.
For the devotees traveling on the annual Kataragama Pada Yathra, Okanda is the last meeting point before entering Kumana’s intolerant jungle and then Yala where devotees carry on their lengthy trek to the Kataragama Devalaya. This takes weeks and weeks to complete. The devotees would worship the Murugan (Kataragama Deity for Hindus) Kovil in Okanda and receive the Murugan’s blessings for a safe and trouble free journey.
A tiny devalaya devoted to Valli Amma, Murugan’s (Skanda) concubine, is at the edge of the rock. A big devalaya devoted to Murugan (goddess Kataragama) lies at the bottom of the rock. A flight of steps carved out of rock leads up to this devalaya.
Nearby, the caves at Kottadamuhela were a gift to the Sangha of the world’s four quarters, past, present and yet to come from the offspring of an autonomous Kshatriya dynasty that ruled over Southeast Ceylon with its Kataragama seat. The fish emblem, discovered in this region’s caves, is these rulers ‘ insignia.
Since then, according to the Historian Ven Madhadana Thero, the name “Okanda Devalaya” that appeared on a panel until 2002-04-27 has been substituted by “Murugan Kovil.” But even today this Okanda Devalaya (Murugan Kovil) is a place of worship for nearly all those who visit Kumana regardless of race and religion.
However, with the emerging of the LTTE and the ethnic war which prevailed in Sri Lanka for almost 30 years, access to this Devalaya was limited, as devotees were afraid to enter this region fearing the LTTE retaliation.