Situated in Handessa the lankatilaka Viharaya, like Gadaladeniya was built in the same year by king’s chief minister Senalankadhikara. The architect, as named in the Lankatilaka inscription, was Sthapati Rayar, a south Indian.
Lankatila Viharaya is built on an uneven stone surface with brick and granite. According to the Lankatilaka copper-plate inscription the original building was 32 cubits or 80 feets high.
According to the ground plan the building is cruciform. The sanctuary which is square is enclosed by an outer casing wall leaving circumambulatory space along three sides. On the exterior of each of three sides is a niche in which is placed an image of one of the popular deities of the period.
