A locality in Sri Lanka and a vihāra founded by Mahāsena, on the site of a Hindu temple (Mhv.xxxvii.41). According to the Mahāvaṃsa Ṭīkā (p.685), it was on the east coast of Sri Lanka. Elsewhere (p.269), the Subcommentary (ṭīkā) speaks of a Gokaṇṇa-tittha in the neighbourhood of the estuary of the Mahākandara-nadī, and the Cūḷavaṃsa (lxxi.18) mentions Gokaṇṇa as the last of a series of fords in Rohaṇa, important from a strategic point of view, along the Mahāvāḷukagaṅgā, from “Sarogāma-tittha to Gokaṇṇa.” In another passage (Cv.xli.79), Gokaṇṇa(ka) is spoken of as mahaṇṇava (the ocean). These facts support Geiger’s conjecture (Cv. Trs.i.59, 4; n.316, n.2) that Gokaṇṇa refers to the Trincomalee (Koddiyar) Bay at the estuary of the Mahāvāḷukagaṅgā.

Gokaṇṇa(ka) is twice described as the scene of magic rites, once in the case of Mahānāga (Cv.xli.79) and again in that of Mānavamma (Cv.lvii.5).

Aggabodhi V built a meditation hall (padhānaghara) for the Gokaṇṇa-vihāra. Cv.xlviii.5.