Heading To Sri Lanka? This Is What You Can Shop For

Sri Lanka is a treat to the eyes but not just geographically! The food, culture and arts and crafts of this country are mind-blowing as well. Here is a list of what all you can bring back with you and the souvenirs you can invest in, in this Asian Country.

The island has amazing artisans who excel in carving and sculpting different materials, ranging from wood to stone and ebony, to laces, lacquer and batik. The government emporium - Laksala has branches in most major towns. In Colombo, there are plenty of superior craft shops, and there are a lot of stores in Kandy as well.

Masks

The devil masks are beautiful! These are used in performances of ritual kolam dances or in exorcism ceremonies. The locals believe these masks frighten away the bad spirits. The centre of Sri Lankan mask-making is on the west coast town of Ambalangoda, where you will see a lot of workshops which are open to visitors. Alternatively, Southland Masks, close by at 353 Main Road, has an excellent and wide-ranging selection of these masks.

Batiks

The art of making batiks in Sri Lanka came from Indonesia brought over by the Dutch. There are so many vendors and artistes working on these and all are made through the time-consuming process of carefully applying wax to the areas not to be dyed. After each dying, the fabric is fixed, the old wax washed out, and then more wax reapplied for the next dyeing. This is how the pictures gradually develop in colour washes as the batik-maker works from light to dark. If you want Picasso-inspired batik pieces then visit Dudley Silva at his home-cum-workshop, 53 Elpitiya Road, Ambalangoda. There are also excellent batiks to be had at Jezlook, at St Yehiya Road in Matara, whose owner, Jezima Mohamed, who says that Queen Elizabeth II was amongst her customers.

Sri Lankan Lace

Lacemaking came to Sri Lanka in the 16th century, brought in by the Portuguese. It needs hours of painstaking work to produce just a few centimetres and the lacemakers are mainly women. Galle is the most famous centre of lacemaking in Sri Lanka. You will be approached by hawkers bearing samples of intricate handmade lace as you wander around the lighthouse area of the fort.

Shop for lace at the Shoba Display Gallery at 67a Pedlar Street in Galle, which showcases the work of local lacemakers. You can also visit Dickwella Lace Centre, which is a women’s cooperative established to revive this craft or the nearby Sewa Lanka Lace Showroom.

Metalwork & Lacquerware

Metalwork is mostly around Kandy. It is beautiful but sadly a bit too big for the suitcase. These metalworkers also produce detailed trays and decorative items. The items have delicate patterns, and you can also shop for metalwork statuettes. You can get yourself some lacquer bowls, containers and other objects.

Marine Products

Buy yourself some polished shells, pieces of coral and more as you will see various shops and itinerant hawkers around the west and south coasts offering marine products. Do not buy any of the marine life as it is illegal!

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Shopping Tips for Sri Lanka Souvenirs

• Bargain hard!
• Head to Laksala, which is a government emporium with branches all over the country.
• Most of these souvenirs can be bought at the Colombo Airport Departure Lounge as well.