This dolmen or stonefly can be sighted at Padavigampala temple which is located in a 1½ km distance from Dahan Pavuwa junction that is confronted 4 km ahead in Rambukkana-Walgama road. It is believed that this cromlech was erected even before the induction of King Vijaya.
Various academicians who have researched about the dolmen have voiced on its account of historical value. It has been recognized as a tomb that belongs to the Stone Age. Another conception is that this terrain with the stone slab was used to inter the deceased tribal chiefs lived in Stone Age. The view that unfolds that the paintings were drawn in stone walls using animal-blood after interring bodies of chives is also significant.
Prof. Senarath Paranavithana has examined the place and has built a stone parapet encompassing the cromlech to ensure its security. Currently, the head stone of the platform is cracked. The stone rampart wall at the left side is also cracked. The cliff caused by the crack seems to be gradually amplified.
These stones adjoined to the stonefly are not exact charnockite and known as “Makkagal”. There are evidences to believe that the stone chamber with this dolmen has got an entrance (door). Doorframes might have been made of an object like timber that is perishable in lapse of time. The dented places in stone slabs of either side can be where the door-frame was fixed.
The dolmen is considered as the only construction hither to be discovered in Sri Lanka that contains a stone slab on two other large stone planks. Two stone walls that would measure 3.1 m long and 1.9 m high support 4.7×3.1 m size stone slab. The ground that the stone fly stands is comparatively lower than the ground in vicinity.
The terrain, where the stonefly is grounded is verily referred as “Padavigampola”. The area name “Padavigampola” is also mentioned in folklore. With reference to a folklore that traces back to the era of arahant Mihindu unveils that Mihindu thero has visited this venue. Accordingly, it is said that the village near the dolmen called “Meeduma” was entitled in that name because arahant Mihindu has visited the area and the village “Madana” was called thus as it was where Mihindu thero has been offered the first alms-giving.
Furthermore it is said that the area was entitled as “Padavigampala” in the means of being worthy to be honored by a rank. “Padavigampala” village was known as “Mal Aragoda” earlier. “Malara” is a name used to refer Gotukola (serch). Due to the arrival of arahant Mihindu thero, Mal Aragoda eventually turned to Padavigampala. Another folktale reveals that Ven. Maliyadewa arahant thero has entitled the area as Padavigampala as he considered the place was worthy enough to offer an honor.
It is said that Ven. Maliyadewa arahant thero was the last arahant lived in Sri Lanka. Wattarama in Kegalle District is known as where he attained enlightenment. He had a habit to travel from Wattarama to Denagama temple through the vicinity of stone-fly. One day when he was passing through this area at the dolmen a heavy rain has started. According the folklore to be unaffected by that heavy rain arahant has gone into the shade of stone-fly.
The Bodhi-tree in vicinity is very ancient that even Ven. Maliyadewa thero has enjoyed the cooling shade of this Bodhi-tree. And a golden bed and a golden chair have immerged at the time for Ven. Maliyadewa thero to be comfortable.
Villages believe that the terrain of the stone-fly has been mystified by lots of miracles since the days of yore. Besides, the ancient Bodhi-tree is encompassed by four other bo-trees implanted in four directions that are well burgeoned unto now. A huge branch of the ancient Bodhi-tree was positioned across over the cromlech and suddenly tumbled down in between the stone-fly and Bodhi-prakara causing no harm to any of them.