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By:E.M.K.C.Kaushalya
ri Lanka is a home to a rich and ancient culture that dates back nearly 3000 years, this diversity culture and tradition always combined with the style of the people who are living in different areas. The fisher communities (Karava people) who are resident to the south costal area of Sri Lanka have a great variety of social culture including unique creations. Ambalangoda is the center of traditional mask carving in the country. Beginning of mask carving in the region goes back hundreds of years. Ambalangoda is a main producer of masks and other wooden souvenir in the country and it is renowned for masks plays and rituals that are performed on different occasions. Especially in thowil places, masks are essential things to accomplish the purpose. The Kolam maduwa and rituals to expel evil demons which cause diseases are prominent among the people Although Ambalangoda is the main producer of masks and other wooden souvenirs in the country, tourist attraction is less compared to the number of tourist arrivals to this area. Hikkaduwa and Bentota cities are closer to Amblangoda and where has developed well and considered as tourist destinations. There is a deficiency of superstructure and infrastructure
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development, accommodation, awareness to achieve proper target market to Ambalangoda compare with the uniqueness of the area. Different types of dancing rituals Kolam: Tells satirical stories of traditional Sri Lankan colonial life, Sanni or devil dancing Masks: used in a type of exorcism ceremony to heal people of persisting ailments believed inflicted by demons Raksha masks: Used in festivals and processions For an instance Kolam-masks those are normally more colorful than the average masks being used for traditional folk theater. Thowilmasks are being used in traditional devil dances, performed to expel the Malicious influence of demon. There are only three varieties of woods are used for the production of masks, two varieties of sandal wood tre