During the reign of King Vatta Gamini Abhaya, also known as King Valagamba, the youngest son of King Saddhatissa (brother of King Dutugemunu), after 103 BC, a noteworthy body of knowledge emerged in Siyane Korale. For the benefit of humanity and the preservation of human health—the greatest of all blessings—this advancement proved highly significant, offering the prospect of lasting happiness rooted in well-being.

Traditional Hela Ophthalmology (indigenous eye medicine), which originated in the village of Vattaddara, continuously provided treatments and preventive care for eye diseases to people who came from all four directions. These treatments utilized indigenous medicinal herbs, occult sciences, and ancient Kem methods (traditional astrological and ritualistic remedies).

Over time, a lineage of practitioners and teachers of traditional Hela Ophthalmology developed around the village of Vattaddara under the guidance of learned monks who possessed knowledge of Hela medicine and Ayurveda. This tradition originated at the Vattaddara Ganekanda Sri Sumanarama Viharaya during the 1800s and, according to written records dating back to 1900 CE, has survived intact to the present day. It continues to rely on traditional secret medicinal formulations preserved in Ola leaf manuscripts.

According to the historical account of how the name “Ganekanda” was bestowed upon the temple, during the Kandyan era, when the number of fully ordained (Upasampada) monks had significantly declined and the monastic community was experiencing a period of deterioration, a group of monks known as “Ganinnansela” resided in temples and dedicated themselves to the propagation of the Dhamma. It is said that the temple came to be known as “Ganekanda” because it was a place where these Ganinnansela monks resided.