Arts & Crafts:

The traditional dances of Sri Lanka have their origin in rites and rituals associated with folk beliefs. There are three distinct dance forms known as Kandyan dancing in the highlands, low country dancing in the coastal region and Sabaragamuwa dancing in the Province of Sabaragamuwa.

Kandyan Dances

The most popular dance form in Sri Lanka is Kandyan dancing also called Ves dancing. It is a very majestic form of dancing. The dancers wearing a regalian costume with a headgear called Ves resembling a crown that has given the name to this style of dancing perform to the rhythmic beating of drums and cymbals and recital of verses called Vannams. Kandyan dancing and drumming plays a prominent role in the annual Esala pageant in Kandy. Pantheru where the dancers play a kind of tambourine while dancing and Udekki where an hourglass like hand drum is beaten while reciting verses are two other variations of Kandyan dancing.

Low Country Dances

Low country dances or Ruhunu dances are highly ritualistic and are performed to appease evil spirits causing sicknesses. This form of dancing is seen mainly in the coastal region of the island. The dancers wearing colourful masks depicting demons, birds and reptiles dance till dawn. The drums are of a different kind from the Kandyan drums.

Sabaragamuwa Dances

These dances are performed in Ratnapura and are associated with the worshiping of God Saman whose main shrine is at Ratnapura and Goddess Pattini, two of the local deities.

Folk Drama

Sri Lankan folk theatre is also based mainly on rituals. There are various forms of folk drama such as Kolam, Sokari and Nadagama. Kolam and Nadagama are found mostly in the low country region whereas Sokari is seen in the hill country. These are mostly all night performances mixed with satire, song and dance.

Kolam performers wear masks depicting characters from the contemporary society and is a form of social satire.

Sokari involves mime with some of the performers wearing masks.

Nadagama is a kind of drama taking the form of folk operas as the dialogues are to a very great extent in the form of song. Recently the Nadagamas have been very successfully adapted to the modern stage.

Selected items and episodes from folk Dance and Drama are now performed in modern theatres as part of cultural performances for the enjoyment of foreign visitors.

Handicrafts

Objects carved in wood, made of brass and silver, decorated with lacquer, hand woven cloth and lace, beautiful reed mats, attractive batiks, pottery, masks, are among the handicraft items made by the traditional craftsmen of Sri Lanka. These are available in the government handicraft emporium called ‘Laksala’ in Colombo and its branches in major outstation cities and towns and in numerous privately owned handicraft shops.

Wood Carving

Wood Carving is practised by traditional craftsmen in the Kandyan region and Galle. Religious and secular objects, household articles, figurines, wall decorations are among the several items carved in wood. The art is even extended to decorating doorways, pillars, doors and windows of places of worship. Moratuwa, a suburb of Colombo is well known for wooden furniture.

Lacquer Work

This is a skilled craft practised in the Kandyan region by traditional craftsmen. Lac workers in the Kandyan region adopt the finger nail technique which is a unique style in creating patterns on items like ash trays, teapoys, ornamental pots, jewellery boxes which are collectors’ items. (Suggested illustrations: Lacquer items).

Brassware and Silverware

Traditional brass products are commonly used as decorative items in Sri Lankan homes. These include oil lamps, trays, wall plaques, lamp stands, religious statuettes, ornamental figurines, vases, letter openers and trays, serviette holders, cigarette tins and match box holders among many other articles. Silver is used in making more expensive objects like tea services, jewellery cases, trays, cutlery and other utility items.