Etymology
The Salagamas believe that their ancestors arrived in Sri Lanka from the Indian village of Saligramam, although the Moor community of Beruwala believes that they came from Saliya Mangalam or Saliya Pattanam in Kerala, However, it is more likely that the name 'Salagama' derived from Sallaggama, a village, which was granted as a fief to the Totagamuwa vihara, on the banks of the river forming the limits of that monastery's lands. Earlier, Parakramabahu I is mentioned having built a bridge here. An even earlier mention of Salaggama is in the context of king Aggabodhi III, but this may be a different village,so it is difficult to ascertain whether the name salagama, derived from shaligramam, or sallagama.
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