Kathaluwa is well known among Buddhists for the Kathaluwa Ancient Temple, which is in fact two temples built around 1820 but separated by a single wall due to a dispute that occurred back then. These temples are known as the “Kathaluwa Ranwella Purana Viharaya” and “Kathaluwa Giniwella Purana Viharaya”. Sri Lanka’s oldest and the first Sinhala Buddhist printing press is one of the unique attractions in the Kathaluwa Ranwella Purana Viharaya. The printing press was donated by King Chulalongkorn of Siam (now Thailand). Kathaluwa is also a location where visitors can watch stilt fishermen, one of the most interesting traditional fishing methods in Sri Lanka.
