Belilena, Prehistoric cave site near Kitulgala, Sri Lanka

Belilena is a cave near Kitulgala, 8 km from the town, whose wide mouth opens beneath a large natural rock overhang of layered grey stone. A low dry-stone wall of brownish stones runs across the cave floor below the opening, with a band of flat tan earth in front and green leafy plants along a lower stone ledge. A lake fills part of the cave a short way from its mouth.

Excavations by Sri Lanka's Archaeological Department between 1978 and 1983 uncovered bone tools, geometric microliths and evidence of fire dated 30,000 to 9,000 years before present. Paul E. P. Deraniyagala had earlier found the remains of ten individuals, attributed to Balangoda Man. Rubble foundations from 16,000 years ago are the earliest evidence of substantial structures in South Asia.

The site is associated with early human settlement, revealing how people prepared food and maintained connections through trade networks. Visitors can understand how communities adapted to the forest environment thousands of years ago.

The cave lies about 8 km from Kitulgala, and the passage beyond the lake near its mouth is still unexplored. Reaching the site calls for a rope or rope ladder, so bring one and plan for a climb. The dry-stone wall and stone ledge at the entrance mark the excavated floor.

The cave holds evidence of stone building structures from around 16,000 years ago. This makes it one of the oldest known places with such constructions in the South Asian region.