Celebrating traditional arts

Text and pix Wehelle Piyathilaka- Maharagama Special Corr

Sri Lankan arts and crafts take inspiration from the Island's long and lasting Buddhist culture which in turn has absorbed and adopted countless regional and local traditions.

In most instances Sri Lankan art originates from religious beliefs, and are represented in many forms such as painting, sculpture and architecture. One of the most notable aspects of Sri Lankan Art are cave and temple painting such as the frescoes found in Sigiriya and religious paintings found in temples in Dambulla and Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy. Other popular forms of art have been influenced by both natives as well as outside settlers. For example, traditional wooden handicrafts and clay pottery are found around the hill country while Portuguese-inspired lacework and Indonesian inspired Batik has become notable.

The culture of Sri Lanka has been influenced by many things in the past, but has managed to retain much of its ancient, rich aspects. Mostly it has been influenced by its rich history, diversity, and religious beliefs. The country has a rich artistic tradition, embracing the fine arts, including music, dance, and visual arts. Sri Lankan lifestyle is reflected in the its cuisine, festivals, and sports. South Indian influences are visible in many aspects.

There is also some influences from colonization by the Dutch, the Portuguese and the British. Sri Lankan culture is best known abroad for its cricket, cuisine, and cultural exports, like tea. Sri Lankan culture is diverse, as it varies from region to region.

An award ceremony was recently held to honour the handicrafts industry. The awards and rewards presentation ceremony 2011 was organized by the National Crafts Council (NCC) and Traditional Industries and Small Enterprises Development Ministry. It was grandly held at the BMICH recently.

The NCC was established in 1982 by the then Prime Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa with the objective of helping local craftsmen to sell their products to tourists. The objective became successful as craftsmen from many parts of the country setup their stalls at the handicraft village.

Even local and foreign tourists visited the village in their thousands to buy handicrafts.

Craftsmen have inborn talents to produce numerous creations. While earning little money by selling their products, they render a great service to keep the county's heritage and culture alive.

The handicraft Centre was recognised by UNESCO as an international heritage handicraft centre. The NCC Chairman Buddhi Keerthisena said the government is bound to preserve the aged-old handicraft industry and also to protect craftsmen in the country.

Preserving handicraft of national and cultural value, development of the local handicraft industry, encourage craftsmen to improve their economic and social standards are among the responsibilities of the NCC.

The objective of opening the handicraft village is to give opportunities for local craftsmen to exhibit their products under one roof.

The handicraft village has close rapport with Sri Lanka Tourism, the Sri Lanka Tourist Promotion Bureau and many other private sector tour groups to develop the industry. According to NCC, tour guides very often visit the handicraft village with large tour groups and this will benefit craftsmen to sell their products.

Keerthisena said local handicrafts, which are sold at the village are very cheap when compared with prices in the open market.

The stalls are kept open everyday between 10 am and 6 pm.

According to NCC statistics over 1000 foreigners visit the village every month.

About 232 traditional handicraftsman of different fields were felicitated, awarded and rewarded with gold, silver and bronze and cash prizes.

Gold winner

The woodcarving 'Maha Maya Deviya Dutu Sihinaya' (the dream Queen Maya saw) by Indika Udayangama of Police, Nada Road, Elpitiya, was judged as the master woodcarving creation of 2011.

Indika is a reputed traditional woodcarving artist who had won gold awards for three consecutive 2009, 2010 and 2011 for his unusually superb creations.

He represented Sri Lanka at the second Dolphin Handicrafts Exhibition at Russia in 2008 and secured third place amid 61 countries participating at the exhibition.

Silver winners

P H Chaminda Prabath de Silva was awarded for his master creation 'Raja Muhunu' from the Masks Division.

G W Anura Jayantha of Nattarampotha was rewarded for his masterpiece of wood carving 'Budun Wahanse Sumana Deviyanaa Sripadaya Bharadeema - the Buddha hands over Sri Pada to the God Saman.

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