Standing quietly at Lipton Circus in the heart of Colombo, the Dewatagaha Mosque is one of Sri Lanka's most venerated Islamic shrines. More than a place of worship, it is the resting place of a Sufi saint whose memory has been kept alive for over 150 years through a story of faith, miracle, and community — a story that continues to draw visitors of many backgrounds.
Who is buried at Dewatagaha Mosque?
The shrine holds the tomb of His Holiness Seyedina as-Sheikh Usman Siddique Ibn Abdurrahman, a Muslim saint who is said to have travelled to Ceylon from the Arabian Peninsula. Tradition holds that he visited Adam's Peak in the Balangoda area before settling in the region that would eventually become Cinnamon Gardens, one of Colombo's most distinguished neighbourhoods. His grave draws devotees who come to offer prayers and pay their respects, following a custom that has remained unbroken across generations.
What is the legend behind the Dewatagaha Mosque?
The story most closely associated with this shrine dates to around 1820, during a time when dense cinnamon jungle stretched across much of what is now central Colombo. A Sinhalese woman who sold oil for a living was making her daily journey from Bambalapitiya through the jungle towards Maradana when she tripped on a tree root and smashed her clay pot — her sole means of earning a livelihood for her family.
Overcome with despair, she fell asleep at the spot. She was awakened by a voice reassuring her that all would be well. Looking up, she saw an elderly man in green robes resting against a tree known locally as the Dawata or Devata tree — the name from which the mosque eventually takes its common form. The saint instructed her to fetch a new pot, pressed his foot to the ground, and oil is said to have bubbled up from the earth. He also asked her to tell her Muslim customers about the place where he had appeared.
The woman went to the house of a Muslim man named Mamma Lebbe and recounted what had happened. A small group — including Mamma Lebbe, Periya Pitche, and Meera Kani — returned to the site and found the broken pot, the oil seeping from the ground, the cashew tree, and the distinctive Dawata tree. They recited Yaseen and Fathiha, prayed for the identity of the saint to be revealed, and from that moment the site became a place of communal significance for the Muslim community of Colombo.
How old is the Dewatagaha Mosque?
The mosque and shrine complex is generally considered to be around 150 years old, with the earliest formal structures believed to have been established in the nineteenth century following the events described in the founding legend. Over the decades it has been extended and maintained by the local Muslim community. The original Dawata tree that gave the site its name no longer stands, but the name endures in the mosque's popular identity.
Where exactly is Dewatagaha Mosque located?
The mosque sits at Lipton Circus, a major roundabout in Colombo 7, within easy reach of several other city landmarks. The surrounding area — once a cinnamon plantation managed under the Dutch and later the British — is today one of Colombo's most established districts, home to embassies, hospitals, and cultural institutions. Visitors exploring Colombo by road will pass through Lipton Circus frequently, making the mosque easy to include in a wider Colombo city tour.
Who visits Dewatagaha Mosque?
The shrine draws a cross-section of Sri Lankan society that goes beyond the Muslim community. Sinhalese and Tamil Sri Lankans also visit to seek blessings, a reflection of the inclusive and syncretic religious culture that characterises many sacred sites across the island. Fridays tend to be particularly busy, as congregants gather for midday prayers, and the atmosphere during significant Islamic occasions such as the Prophet's birthday is notably more festive.
The mosque is also of interest to visitors curious about Colombo's layered history — a city shaped by Moorish traders, Portuguese colonisers, Dutch planters, British administrators, and the many communities who lived alongside one another in the centuries before independence.
What should visitors know before going?
- Dress modestly — shoulders and knees should be covered for both men and women.
- Remove footwear before entering the shrine area.
- The mosque is an active place of worship; be respectful of prayer times and ongoing religious activity.
- Non-Muslim visitors are generally welcome to observe the outer areas and the shrine, though it is courteous to ask before entering inner spaces.
- Photography inside should be approached with discretion and only after checking with mosque staff.
Is Dewatagaha Mosque worth visiting if I am not Muslim?
For travellers interested in the social and religious history of Colombo, the mosque offers a genuine window into the city's Muslim heritage and the Sufi traditions that shaped it. The founding legend alone is a compelling piece of urban folklore, and the physical setting — tucked against the bustle of Lipton Circus — illustrates how faith and city life have always coexisted in Colombo. Combined with a visit to the nearby Colombo Lotus Tower and other landmarks, it makes for a thoughtful afternoon of cultural exploration.
How does Dewatagaha Mosque fit into Sri Lanka's broader Muslim heritage?
Islam arrived in Sri Lanka many centuries ago, brought primarily by Arab traders who settled along the coast and gradually integrated into local society. The Moor community, as Sri Lankan Muslims of Arab descent came to be known, established mosques and shrines throughout the island. Dewatagaha is among the most prominent urban examples. Elsewhere in Kandy, the Meera Makam Mosque similarly honours a revered figure and reflects the role these shrines have played in anchoring Muslim identity across different parts of the country.