The historic Selawa Vihara can be confronted by proceeding about 5 km to east direction across Arama from Aranayaka. The sacred complex is located based on three caves. The cavern which is clad with clay walls is grounded at the precipice of the gigantic rock. Two image houses and a store house are included in the cave with drip-ledges. There is a long vestibule of 40 m in front of the image house and 18 lumber posts that would count 4.3 m tall sustain the eave. The vestibule would measure 6-7 m wide.
There is a stone inscription erected by King Sri Wikkrama Rajasinha in presence of the holly place. This epigraph is considered to be the last established by a King in Sri Lanka. A live-size image of Meegasthenna adigar is painted inside of the outer wall of the temple. Behind the vihara complex there are two closets. It is said that these closets were dedicated to safeguard kings during calamities.
Constructions of this sanctuary that was commenced in the reign of King Kirthi Sri Rajasinha (1779 A.D.) who governed Mahanuwara kingdom was completely finished and consecrated in 1806 A.D. It is considered that the delay in constructions was happened by not being able to held “Nethra Mangalya” (eye opening ceremony of an image of Lord Buddha) due to the amplitude of vihara complex.
However, all the works were concluded by consecrating land grants for the continuation of the sanctuary in the days of King Sri Wikkrama Rajasinha (1798-1815 A.D.). A recumbent Buddha statue, a sedent image and a standing image are enshrined inside the image house. Lotus decorations, images of deities and reclining images are inscribed in vihara complex. Twenty four annotations and an invaluable painting that belong to Mahanuwara reign can also be sighted in this place of worship.