Traditional Masks Sri Lanka

Traditional Masks have been used in Sri Lanka for generations, originating from rituals in village settings that followed ancient beliefs, and also used for curing illness. It is believed that masks have healing and protective powers. Today masks are used in dramas and dance performances but in rural areas used in rituals that are very much alive.

Birth of a Mask

A good kaduru tree (also known as Strychnine tree, Strychnos nax-vomica, or poison nut, it is soft, easy to carve wood) is selected and cut down. The stem was drained to drain the juice and then completely dried and cut into pieces. The basic shapes of the masks engrave according to the measurements of the ancient scriptures using a mallet, chisel, and various other tools. The wood is smoked on the shelves of large ovens to prevent future damage from insects. Experienced wood is carved and smoothed into elaborate faces and expressions. Later masks were painted with paints that were treated in the traditional way for durability.

 Mask Factory and Museum

Making masks is a popular tradition in Sri Lanka. Many Sri Lankan masks trade on the west, southwest, and south coasts of the island. Ambalangoda is the centre for making unique Sri Lankan masks. Ariyapala and Sons is an important landmark of Ambalangoda. At the Mask Museum, you can walk through a fantastic collection of these delicate works of art, each of which carries a legendary story of Sri Lankan history and culture.

The institution has been in the Wijesuriya family for five generations and serves as a cultural centre with a small library, a mask workshop, and a mask museum. The centre is named after Ariyapala Wijesuriya Gurunnanse. He is an ancestor of the Wijesuriya family & a renowned master craftsman in Sri Lanka.

Along with a complete collection of Sanni Yakuma rituals and kolam dances, the primary tools used to engrave these marks are also on display. The Ves Library is one of a kind in Sri Lanka. It contains anthropological reports on the making of masks and the history of traditional masked performances. Villagers handcrafted these masks. Today, these masks are an important part of the Sri Lankan tradition. They are very important in pageants, processions, and festivals. They also use in dance, drama, and puppet shows.