A modest white stupa from the 1st century BC, set within three concentric rings of stone columns that once supported a roof structure. Built by King Valagamba in a quiet wooded area west of the Abhayagiri complex, the Lankarama is smaller and quieter than the great dagobas but is one of the prettier views in the city.
The site is often empty of other visitors and is a good stop to combine with a visit to the Samadhi Buddha and Kuttam Pokuna, all of which are clustered in the same northern zone. The atmosphere is contemplative — the column rings give it a sense of architectural rigour rare in the more crowded sacred precinct.