A township in Sri Lanka, founded by one of the ministers of Vijaya (Dpv.ix.35; Mhv.vii.45). According to a different tradition (Mhv.ix.9; perhaps this refers to another settlement), it was founded by a brother of Bhaddakaccānā, called Uruvela. Uruvelā was evidently a port as well, because we are told that when Duṭṭhagāmaṇī decided to build the Mahā-Thūpa, six wagon-loads of pearls as large as myrobalan fruit, mixed with coral, appeared on dry land at the Uruvela-pattana (Mhv.xxviii.36). Near Uruvelā was the Vallī-vihāra, built by Subha (Mhv.xxxv.58).

Geiger thinks (Mhv.Trs.189, n.2) that Uruvelā was near the mouth of the modern Kalā Oya, five leagues — i.e. about forty miles — to the west of Anurādhapura.