It is from the Mahiyangana stupa that paintings drawn within a relic chamber is discovered in Sri Lanka for the first time. This relic chamber was opened o January 03, 1951 during excavations conducted by the Department of Archaeology where it was found that mortar containing the paintings had been fallen on the ground. Out of the fragments about thirteen parts of paintings could be protected and conserved. Incidents such as the defeat of Mara, the Enlightenment, the worship of Buddha by the Devas and the Brahma in the three world etc. are depicted by those paintings.

Among these paintings which are considered to be dated back to the 9-10th centuries AD, the well preserved one is that which depicts the God Vishnu with four hands and carrying a basket of flowers in two hands getting ready for the worship of the Buddha. While red, orange, yellow, black and white have been used as the main colors in drawing the pictures, the line is given prominence in executing them. At present the plates containing these paintings are securely kept at the Anuradhapura museum for exhibition.