The deity at Kataragama is indigenous and long-celebrated in Sri Lankan lore and legend, and originally resides on the top of mountain called Wædahiti Kanda (or hill of the indigenous Vedda people) just outside of the Kataragama town.
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Till today the indigenous Vedda people come to venerate at the temple complex from their forest abodes.
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As a link to the Vedda past, the temple holds its annual festival that celebrates the God's courtship and marriage to a Vedda princess in July to August.
The community is noted for its performances of Sokari, the comic opera performed on the kamatha threshing floor in honor of goddess Pattini and god Kataragama.
However, South Indian puranas state that Kataragama or Kathirgamam was the place where Lord Murugan stationed his army during his war with Surapadman.
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Sri Lankan mythology moves the events into the island and claims that they occurred among the Veddah people near Kataragama.
Born to Attanayake Mudiyanselage Jayawardena Attanayake a Member of Parliament (1970-1977 & 1994-1999), former Basnayaka Nilame (Lay Custodian) of the Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya and Wimala Manathunge of Pitakumbura, a village in the Moneragala District.