Munneswaram, along with Koneswaram (Trincomalee), Naguleswaram (Keerimalai), Thiruketheeshwaram (Mannar) and Shri Ponnambalawaneswaram (Colombo), forms the five ancient temples (Ishwarams) dedicated to Shiva in the region including Sri Lanka [REF].
Destruction The Portuguese, after their arrival in Sri Lanka in 1505, began a campaign of forced conversion and destruction of many Buddhist and Hindu temples around the island.