Sri Lanka is a multi-ethnic , multi religious and multi-cultural country. The Cultural diversity has enriched the talents of local craftsmen, with traditional skills running in the families passed down through generations to generations. Historical records reveal how art and crafts flourished under the royal patronage and the craftsmen were held in high esteem. As Sri Lankan we have proud heritage history of arts and crafts. wide range of creative design activities that are related to making handicrafts include gold and silver jewellery set with gems, wooden masks, intricate lace-work, lacquer work and ceramics, Pottery Products, Wood carvings, metal wares, Batik and handloom textiles and reed and rushes works.
Handicraft is described as any utensil or ornament which is made by hand whether it is natural or artificial one. Sri Lanka’s inherited craftsmanship, cultural diversity and rich natural resources provides the base for a wide range of handicraft that satisfy the quality conscious products. The diversified raw material base for handicrafts in Sri Lanka is stone, coloured stones and minerals, clay, textile, wood, rush & reed, palmyra, dried leaves & seeds, recycled paper, metal etc. Especially Elephant Dung & Water Hyacinth, banana fiber, tea refuse, paddy husk, wild grass are perfect and Eco – friendly raw materials used for manufacturing recycled papers for handicraft production.
The talented artisans turn out innovative products to their own designs and are ready to make products according to the designs given by buyers at internationally competitive prices. Modern trends are taken into account in producing items of beauty with utility. A range of geographical zones, a climate conducive to uninterrupted plant growth, rich and various types of precious mineral deposits provides a wide range of raw materials for the industry. The various raw materials thus obtained, produce a wide range of handicrafts.
You are lucky to see the work that goes into creating them when you travel around the country. See the pottery wheels in action at the small village of Molagoda in the Sabaragamuwa province and cane manufacturing at Weweldeniya, Bataleeya and Radaa wadunna in North Westrern Part. Watch the casting and shining methods of brass ware in Naththarampota, Pilimathalaawa and the weaving designs with colourful patterns using reeds of Dumbara mats in Central province. Enjoy deft hands weaving intricate lace patterns in towns around the south- western and eastern coast Sri Lanka and it is indeed quite fascinating to see how the hands dexterously handle the tools to create intricate patterns, something that you should not miss. Lace making was a pastime caught on from Portuguese and Dutch women during the colonial times, has now developed into a reputed household industry, can be seen mostly around the Weligama, Galle, Matara and Hambantota in South Western Coastal areas of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka, famed for precious and semi-precious stones from the past, especially blue sapphires is a sure choice when it comes to purchasing jewellery through your visit.
Colourful and bright walking sticks, handles of flags and hand-fans, bowls, vases, containers and decorative items made with lacquer work are seen island-wide specially in ancient Buddhist temples and museums also. Especially central region is most popular for lacquer making works in Sri Lanka. Among the modern day plastics and steel products also pottery products are most popular now a days. Mask carving and Mask Dancing are local tradition in the southern coastal region in Sri Lanka. Ambalangoda is well known for traditional masks carvings and masks dancing. See the mask carving and painting and mask museum at Ambalangoda in southern province. These skillfully made traditional handicrafts are a very popular choice amongst tourists and seekers of souvenirs depicting Sri Lankan culture.
Pottery Products, Wood carvings, Brassware Products, Lace Products, Wooden Masks Production, Lacquer Products, Batik Products, Handloom and textiles products, Reed & Rushes Products and Mats, Gem & Jewelry Products are the colourful and most attractive handloom products and utensils of Sri Lanka among locals and foreigners. Within this tour you will visit pottery production village, traditional wood carving and mask production center and mask museum, gem cutting and polishing center and handloom textile and batik production center.
Gem Products
Sri Lanka has a glittering history for its owned gems, hence this enchanted island was better known as the “Rathna Deepa” or Gem Island in the ancient history. Its mineral rich soils have been yielding seemingly a never ending supply of high quality precious and semi-precious gem stones. Sri Lanka has a rich history of large deposits of diverse gems stones. Ratnapura (‘The City of Gems’ in Singhalese) is very famous for gem mining in Sri Lanka and it has incredible variety of gemstones, many of them outstanding in comparison with stones from other regions.Sri Lanka has built her reputation as one of the finest gem cutting and finishing centres in the world, offering gem stones that meet the highest international standards. In the global market Sri Lanka has made a special identity for most important source of high quality sapphires. It has been known for its fabulous high quality blue sapphires, all over the world. Sri Lanka contained a variety of of gem-quality minerals including chrysoberyl, garnet, sapphire, spinel, tourmaline, Topaz and zircon.
Pottery Products
Pottery products are one of the oldest handicraft in Sri Lanka. Low fired cooking pots, coking pans, jugs, bowls, goblets, tiles, vases are the most widely using kitchen utensils. In addition to the kitchen pots and pans, intricately designed products such as terracotta figures and carved vases too are popular in Sri Lanka.
Wood carvings
Woodcarving was one of the most famous handicraft in Kandian region in 18th century AD and it is proved the Audience hall Kandy and Ambekke Devalaya near Kandy in Central Part of Sri Lanka. Wall hangings, fancy jewelary, figurines, sculptures, lacquer products, gift boxes, toys and house hold items are some of the wood crafting items in Sri Lanka.
Brassware Products
Wrought and casting methods are the main techniques which are used to produce brassware. Coconut oil lamps, pots, bowls, Vases, Wall plaques such as household utensils are made with cast techniques.
Other types of handicrafts are
- Lace Works
- Wooden Masks Production
- Lacquer Products
- Batik Products
- Hand-loom and textiles products
