Handicraft In Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has a heritage of handcraft. All craft are
made by hand.These handcrafts include weaving cloths,
making baskets,leather items pottery, jewellery woodwo
-rk,brasswork and masks etc.Our handicraft are an imp
-ortant part of the craft tradition of our country.We mu
-st protect and maintain the flower of our heritage, so
that they don't disapper with time

Earlier these craft were apart of our day to day life.
Now too they play a role.For example,we light the oil lam
-p when we start some new venture.The lamp has niches
for nine wicks.These are meant to be for the 'navagraha'.
But now the lamps are decorated with jasmine flowers li
-ke an offering made in the Hindu temple.The traditiona
-l lamp had a rooster at the top.Thise is now sometimes
replaced with other symbols. So tradition is countinude
with change.

Wood carving is a very popular handicraft even to d
-ay, in our country. The Embakke temple built in the 14 th
century is famous the world over for its carved wooden pil
-lars intricast designs.

Masks are also imaginative creations of the village cr

-aftsmen coming down from ancient times.Masks are mad

-e of wood and used for plays.Masks are carved by coutom

and tradition.Ambalangoda is famouse for its mask making

industry.

Dumbara mats,jewellery,rattan baskets etc. are

othertraditional arts and products that show our traditional

arts and crafts.Some handicrafts are limited to certain areas in

the island; it is because of the availability of the special mat

-erial used and other historical factors.Most brassware is u

-sed as decorative ornaments. These are very popular as gi

-ft and souvenirs.Pilimathalawa is a place famous for for br

-ass work.