Dambulla Cave No. 5 (Devana Alut Vihara): 1915 brick reclining Buddha and folk tempera?

Cave No. 5 at Dambulla, known as Devana Alut Vihara (Second New Temple), is the newest shrine in the complex, converted into a temple in 1915 by local Buddhist devotees. Historically used as a storehouse, the shrine features a 10-meter reclining Buddha constructed not by carving living bedrock, but by building up a core of kiln-fired clay bricks coated with thick slaked-lime plaster. The ceiling murals display late colonial-era folk art styling, featuring vibrant synthetic blue and green imported pigments alongside traditional mineral reds, depicting local village patrons in European collars worshipping alongside classical deities.