Lama Hewage Don Martin Wickramasinghe was a great novelist in 20th Century. He was a great scholar of Sinhala literature. Wickramasinghes Literary career began with novel Leela in 1914. His work has been translated in several languages similar as English, Russian, Tamil, Hindi, Dutch, German, French, Japanese and among many others. There’s no question that the heritage that this authorship has left for his country and his culture will be remembered for much further time from now to come.
Lama Hewage Don Martin Wickramasinghe was born on 29th of May 1890, In Koggala. The land Koggala considered of a large rock on one side and a steam of water surrounded by tributaries of the Koggala Oya on the other. And it is no secret that the living condition and cultural characteristics of the people who lived here influenced in his later writings.  He was the only son of Don Bastian Wickramasinghe and Magalle Balapitiya Liyanage Thochchohamy. In 1895 He learnt first Sinhalese alphabet from Andiris Gurunnanse and in 1900 he started his formal education in school of Bounavista School in Galle. After two years he went to the Sinhala medium school in Ahangama.
He died in 1976 and he has remained one of the most known and widely recognized Sri Lankan authors.

Novels

• Leela
• Soma
• Irangani
• Seetha
• Miringu Diya (Mirage)
• Unmada Chithra
• Rohini
• Gamperaliya (The Uprooted/ Changing Village)
• Madol Doova (Mangrove Island)
• Yuganthaya (End of the Era)
• Viragaya (Devod of Passions)
• Kaliyugaya (Age of Destruction)
• Karuvala Gedara (House of Shadows)
• Bhavatharanaya (Siddhartha’s Quest)

Collections of short stories

• Geheniyak (A Woman)
• Magul Gedara (The Wedding)
• Pavkarayata Galgaseema (Stoning the Sinner)
• Apuru Muhuna (The Strange Face)
• Handa Sakki Kima (The Moon is Witness)
• Mara Yuddhaya (Mara’s War)
• Mage Kathawa (My Story)
• Vahallu (Bondage)

Plays

• Chithra
• Mayuri
• Vijitha

Literary criticism

• Shastriya Lekshana (Educational Essays)
• Sinhala Sahithya Katha (Sinhala Literary Essays)
• Sahithya Shiksha 1
• Sahithya Shiksha 2
• Vichara Lipi (Literary Criticism)
• Guttila Gitaya 1
• Sinhala Sahityaye Negima
• Sinhala Sahithye Nagima (Land Marks of Sinhala Literature)
• Sahithya Kalawa (Art of Literature)
• Kavya Vicharaya (Sinhala Poetry: A critical Review)
• Attta Yutta (Essays in Literature)
• Bana Katha Sahithya (Buddhist Folk Literature)
• Bana Katha Sahithya (Buddhist Folk Literature)
• Nava Padya Sahithya (Modern Sinhala Poetry)
• Rasavadya Ha Bauddha Kavyaya (Aesthetics and Buddhist Poetry)
• Sinhala Vichara Maga (Sinhala Literary Criticism)
• Navakathanga Ha Viragaya (Literary Aspects of Buddhist Jataka Stories)
• Sinhal Nawakathawa Ha Japan Kama Sevanella (The Sinhal Novel in
  the shadow of the Japanese Erotic Novel)
• Sinhala Natakaya Ha Sanda Kinduruwa (Sanda Kinduru and Sinhala Drama)
• Sampradaya Ha Vicharaya (Tradition and Criticism)
• Vyavahara Bhashawa ha Parinama Dharmaya (Contemporary Sinhala and
  its Evolution)

Mahagamage Samarasekara is born on 7th April 1929 in Radawana, Colombo. He was the only son of Maha Gamage Jhon Appuhami and Ranawaka Arachchige Rosalin.  Mahagama Sekara is considered to be one of the foremost artists of Sri Lanka. He is known as a Poet, Songwriter, Novelist, Shor Story writer, Playwriter and Film director. He made a special mark in the art of Sinhala poetry.
He started his Education in a Government school in Randawana in 1934. Then he entered to the Government College of Fine Art in 1948. Finally, he entered to the Teacher training school in Nittabuwa in 1950. In 1952 he got appointed as a Sinhalese trained teacher. In 1981 The University of Jayawardenapura awarded him the Degree, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
He died in 14th January of 1976, and it is still considered as a great loss to Sri Lankan poetry and literature.

Poetry

• Bodima
• Heta Irak Payai
• Maknisadayath
• Maranaya
• Nomiyemi
• Prabudda
• Rajathilake Lianel and Priyantha
• Sakwa Lihini
• Vyanga

Novels

• Thun Man Handiya
• Mrono Mandiya
• Nomiyemi

Short Stories

• Peethara
• Man Thananno
• Pungna
• Meeya

Gunadasa Amarasekara born on 12th of November 1929 in Yatalamatta in Galle District. Father was a Sinhalese Doctor and Mother was a teacher. He studied at Mahinda college Galle and Nalanda College in Colombo. He was graduated from the university of Ceylon and a dentist by a profession. And also, recipient of a doctorate for his literacy service.
Gunadasa Amarasekara is an outstanding novelist born in Sri Lanka. A short story Writer, poet, a critic, a thinker and an essayist. Amarasekara was one of the founders of Peradeniya Gurukula, which has attracted much attention in modern Sri Lanka literature. He was a controversial figure in the literary world because of the subject matter and writing style of his work. Gunadasa Amarasekara who later become self-critical in his original creations and literary philosophy through works such as Gandhaba Apadanaya began to create with a new version.
In 2009, the Nalanda College where he studied awarded him the Nalanda Keerthi Sri Award, the most important alumnus in Nalanda.

Novels

• Karumakkarayo
• Gamanaka Mula
• Gamdoren Eliyata
• Depa Noladdo
• Yali Paminiyemi
• Asathya Kathayak
• Inimaga Ehalata
• Premaye Sathya Kathawak
• Duru Rataka Dukata Kiriyaka
• Vanka Giriyaka

Short Stories

• Rathu Rosa mala
• Jeevana Suwada
• Ekama Kathawa
• Katha Pahak
• Gal Pilimaya saha Bol Pilimaya
• Marana Manchakaye Dutu Sihinaya

Poems

• Bhaavageetha
• Uyanaka Hinda Litu Kavi
• Amal Bisso
• Gurulu Watha
• Avarjana
• Aska Da Kava

Literary Criticism

• Vicharaya saha Vinodaya
• Aliya Saha Andayo
• Abuddassa Yugayak
• Anagarika Dharmapala Marxvaadida?
• Ganaduru Madiyama Dakinemi Arunalu
• Arunaluseren Arunodhyata
• athika Chinthanaya saha Jaathika Aarthikaya
• Sinhala Kawya Sampradaya

Wellawattarachchige Abraham Silva born on 16th January 1890 in Pamankada, Colombo. He was the eldest son of W.A. Hermanis Silva and Moro Nona. He received his early education at St. Pauls Milagiriya. After Completing his formal Sinhala education, at the age of 17 he wrote his first novel ‘Siriyalatha’. He studied Sanskrit and Sinhala under the late Sri Vajiragnana, and then He worked as a cleck.
W. A. Silva is best known as a novelist, furthermore his contribution to the popularization of Sinhala short stories should be appreciated. In addition to being a writer, he was also a newspaper editor and magazine editor. His second novel ‘Lakshmi’ was published in 1922.
Lakshmi’ was followed with a series of other novels such as ‘Hingana Kolla’ (The beggar boy), ‘Pasal Guruwari’ (The School Mistress), ‘Deiyanne Rate’ (The land of gods) ‘Sunethra’ nohoth Avicharasamaya’ (Sunethra or the Reign of Terror), ‘Daivayogaya’ (The intervention of Destiny), ‘Vijayaba Kollaya’ (The Assassination of Vijayabahu), ‘Kelehanda’ (The Wild Moon), ‘Radala Piliruwa’ (The puppet of fendal) etc. W. A. Silva was also the author of several short stories, detectives, plays and books on various other topics.
As a translator, he translated a portion of the ‘Arabian Night’ into Sinhala under the title ‘Ekdahas Ekraya’ and Sanskrit poem ‘Ramayanaya’- ‘Valmuki Ramayanaya’. He also published ‘Sirisa’, ‘Nuwana’ and ‘Thilaka’ as a newspaper editor and he was the editor of ‘Lanka Samaya’ magazines.
He died on 3rd of March 1957. After his death, Wellawatta High Street was named as W.A. Silva Mawatha.

• Siriyalatha
• Lakshmi
• Hingana Kolla
• Pasal Guruvari
• Deiyange Rate
• Kale Handa
• Daivayogaya
• Sunethra
• Vijayaba Kollaya
• Radala Pilliruwe

• Handa Pane
• Julihatha
• Ridihavadiya
• Lensuva
• Sakvithi Raja
• Amurtha Hasthaya
• Dalakumar
• Arabian Night (translation)
• Maya Yogaya (Play)
• Ramayanaya (translation)

Rice and Curry

Rice is considered as staple Food of sri lanka while there are over 10 types of this cereal grain which is widely consumed on a day to day in many households. From tiny white “Samba” rice to the long grained “Basmathi” rice, and many Red Raw Rice specialties, Sri Lankans have been dependent on this staple since the golden era of mighty kings and warriors who managed to flourish the land with crops and various commodities.

Rice and Curry which is referred such as National Dish of the island, has a kind of mouthwatering accompaniments which can keep your taste-buds dancing to a rhythm of fiery desire. The curries usually contains one meat or fish dish which is sort of spicy, two or three types of of vegetable curries, a mallum (a mixture of finely chopped green leaves mixed well with grated Coconut, lime and salt) a spicy sambal or chutney and at last a papadam (a thin fried wafer)

The curries should ideally contains a gravy in order that the rice is well amalgamated with the rest. All of these dishes are quite spicy but there are mild yellow curries such as “Dhal” or “Potato” that are infused with Coconut Milk so that the flavors are well balanced. Sri Lankans are famous for incorporating their herbs and Spices while sliced onions, green Chillies, Cinnamon, Black Pepper, Cloves, nutmeg, Cardamom, saffron, Curry Leaves, Tamarind paste, Ginger and Garlic are used to add more punch and flavors in the cooking.

While fish and Chicken are the most forms of proteins used, some prefer tempered dried fish, fish cutlets or eggs. Vegetarians are certain a treat since the seasonal local produce offers such as mouthwatering vegetables like Jack Fruit, bread fruit, banana flowers, beans, okra, Brinjals or maybe Fruits that are cooked into chutneys and curries like mango and ambarella (June Plum).

Dhal Curry

A Sri Lankan dal (dhal) curry is simple and quick to cook. This is made with dal flavored with coconut milk, Curry Leaves and spices. It’s vegan, gluten-free and high in protein.
Dal or parippu is the staple in Sri Lankan cuisine. It’s such a simple dish but packed with flavors. It is eaten with Rice and Curry, Coconut Roti, naan roti.

If you’re aware of Indian dal, you’d be surprised to understand that this dal is prepared a similar way but with different flavors. We use Coconut Milk and temper with curry leaves.

Baby jackfruit curry

A staple and also consumed as a main source of carbohydrate, the jackfruit is enjoyed from its tender age and also when its ripe and juicy. Loved by natives and popular among foreign visitors, the Fruit isn’t only a source of energy but also the right meal for vegans or anyone trying to find a gluten free option. The ever-flavorsome Polos Curry because it is known in Sri Lanka will be enjoyed with a plate of steamed rice and a sambal. The local Spices and also the coconut milk which are infused within the dish adds the flavor while the ingredients may differ according to family secrets that are passed on.

Kiribath

A true Sri Lankan classic, “Kiribath” or Milk Rice is that the Westerners call it, is that the traditional breakfast dish also as a celebratory treat for special occasions. In some Asian cultures including Sri Lanka, milk and rice is that the significant symbol of prosperity, luck and happiness in abundance.

Milk Rice is particularly cooked during the Sinhalese New Year and various festive and auspicious occasions, while locals even have the tradition of cooking this creamy mild flavored rice cake on the primary day of each month.

Kokis

A crispy, deep fired Sri Lankan treat that’s well known to create rounds during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year and any celebratory event, “Kokis” is just made from rice flour and Coconut milk which are widely available here.

Kokis mold’s which are iron crafted are available in Sri Lanka while the main common shapes are butterfly, flower and wheel shaped ones. The most important task is to take the right consistency of the batter which should be thicker than a pancake mix. The reason is so the mold is well coated with the batter and fried into perfection.

Handicraft is the “traditional” main sector of the crafts, it’s a type of work where useful and decorative are made completely by hand or by using only simple tools. Sri lanka has proud heritage of art and craft skill that is almost found amongst women. In sri lanka popular handicrafts include gold and silver jewelry, wooden mask, lace work, pottery, wood carving, met work, brass work, lacquer work, bathik and ceramics.

Sri Lanka has a large verity of traditional handy crafts. Sri Lanka is known world over for her handicrafts. Sri Lanka has a varied heritage for of traditional crafts and arts. These products are a result of age – old techniques, indigenous raw materials and tools of natural Handicrafts are fashioned in rural Craft Centers. It was with in these Castes that traditional skills were preserved with a high degree of distinct ethnic identity, Sri Lanka handy crafts men have been able to success fully combines certain raw material in to modern Crafts. Sri Lanka is well renowned to produce exquisite handicrafts.

Jewellery in Sri Lanka

Jewelry has always been embedded into the culture and heritage of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s Jewelry is of superior craftsmanship that competes on the international level bringing in foreign revenue into the country. Sri Lanka has two traditions in designing jewelry: Galle Low Country Traditional also called Western Traditional and Kandyan traditional. The Galle tradition features gold and precious stones while the Kandyan tradition features intricate metal work especially in silver. Sri Lanka, famed for precious and semi-precious stones, especially blue sapphires, is a sure choice when it comes to purchasing jewelry.

Wooden Masks

Masks are deeply connected to Sri Lankan folk-lore and takes on a functional role where they’re used in healing rites and rituals. it’s popularly as devil dances, some are dance-drama performances that tells a full story and is enacted by dancers and actors wearing these masks.

One of the popular and ancient acts is that the 18 Sanni that are thought to represent diseases or ailments caused by yakkas (devils). Eighteen masks carved to represent the torment felt through these decreases are worn by an exorcist and a tovil, devil dance, is performed. Other popular mask dances or dramas are Kolam and Raksha, one a comedic performance and also the other masks mainly used in festivals and processions.

Wooden Masks are produced mainly within the South western coastal belt of Sri Lanka. Of all the areas of the South-western coastal belt, the town of Ambalangoda includes an extended heritage within the specialized handicraft of producing Wooden Masks. Wooden Masks during an honest selection of sizes in vibrant colors are made from the timber of a tree locally called ‘Kaduru” (strychnos nux vomica). Kaduru tree that grows in marshy lands bordering paddy fields is light and soft making it an ideal material to means out wooden masks.

Beeralu lace Work

Lace making, a pastime caught on from Portuguese and Dutch women during the colonial times, has now developed into a reputed household industry, mostly around the South Western Coast of Sri Lanka. Lace making households can be seen in Weligama, Galle, Matara and Hambantota. 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 if you happen to come across a household engaged in the art of making beeralu lace and perhaps even have a go at it, if they allow.

The process of making the Beeralu is fascinating but takes a lot of time and effort. First, the pattern of the lace is hand-drawn on chart paper, marked with round skulls, and wrapped around a lace pillow. Afterward, several lengths of thread are wound around wooden bobbins, and last, of all, the threads are braided or woven around the pins, which ultimately form into a finished piece of lace.

During this process, the Beeralu lace pieces are shaped. As the craft continues, the weaver spins a small pillow (pillow ball) and gathers lace strips around it. The number of drums used for weaving varies according to the pattern, and the yarn used for weaving can be white or colored or a mixture of both. Beeralu lace is often made up of long strips that combine to create various items such as table mats, shirt collars, coasters, and blouses. Direct weaving of these items will take a long time.

Lacquer work ( Laksha )

Laksha industry has special place in Sri Lankan Sinhala culture. They use natural materials for this progress. although the things that comes out from the Laksha insect is colourless, they add various colours and make them colourful. The difference between a good quality Laksha and a low quality Laksha is that low quality one is breakable, it is broken by bending it from a hand. Laksha industry are often divided into two parts as Niyapothu wada and pattal wada, but both of those industries have fallen down nowadays.

As the new generation is searching for latest jobs and also the Laksha products are sold in high prices by salesmen, the demand of Laksha industry is reduced. The second we hear the word Laksha we happen to imagine old complex designs, but nowadays the new generation of the society seems to stick with charm, creative designs. which effects the Laksha industry also

Pottery

Pottery is one of the oldest handicrafts in Sri Lanka. The primarily utilitarian character of Sri Lankan pottery has been continuing to exist since the very beginning of Aryan Sinhalese civilization of Sri Lanka. The simplicity of ornamentation and charm of the elegance of pottery have held fast in the island for more than a couple of millenniums and a half in Sri Lanka.

Low fired cooking pots, cooking pans, jugs, bowls, goblets, tiles, vases, are the most widely used kitchen utensils of Sri Lanka. In addition to the kitchen pots and pans, intricately designed products such as terracotta figures and carved vases too are popular in Sri Lanka. Ornaments such as figurines and delightful animals with distinctly Sinhalese characteristics are also produced at the pottery workshops in the countryside.

Sri Lanka pottery is turned out by means of a small wheel being turned by the potter while shaping the lump of clay with hands and then oven-hardened in a traditional kiln built of brick. The major quantity of the products is plain utensils devoid of decoration. With the demand for decorated pottery being on the rise, dying the wet clay in patterns and glazing are now introduced.

Bathik

Batik is both an art and a craft, which is becoming ever more popular and standard among contemporary artists everywhere within the world, as a wonderfully creative medium. to form a batik, selected areas of the design are blocked out by applying hot wax over them, a dye is applied on top and also the parts covered in wax resist the dye and remain the first colour. a simple batik could even be just one layer of wax and one dye, but this process of waxing and dyeing are often repeated again and again if necessary, to make more elaborate and colorful designs. After the final dyeing the wax is removed (usually in hot water) and therefore the material is ready for wearing or displaying.

Batik is of Indonesian roots, yet in Sri Lanka, the craft has developed into a singular style to provide shirts, sarongs, dresses, shorts, wall hangings, cushions cover, bed hangers and a mess of décor items. Batik handicraft products are of distinctive designs in vibrant colors.

Today, since chemical dyes too have got the equation additionally to the traditional dyes, the spectrum of colors in Batik seems to possess become endless. Originally an industry, today manufacture of Batik products is completed at workshop level within the South-western coastal areas of also because the Central area of Sri Lanka.

Mat weaving

“Pedura”, is a multi-purpose Sri Lankan mat, that has been in use since the traditional ages. In the past, almost every Sri Lankan home want to have several of those mats for various purposes. Once it’s a tuckaway bed, next a surface to dry paddy, spices and other dried foods, sometimes, a dining table and the mat when placed on the verandah, serves as seats in old Sri Lankan village mud houses. The raw materials or fabrics used for this traditional mat are the kinds of pan reed that’s freely available within the river and lake banks. The raw pan reeds are first boiled in natural dyes to begin the method. And only then does the art start. Two dried pan reeds of the same length are vertically placed together, running parallel to each other within the manner of a rail track, then a 3rd is brought into the frame and placed horizontally to tie up the two. The continuation of this interlacing process will finally result in a colorful handcrafted mat.

The modern Mat weaving craftsmen in Sri Lanka, to remain up with contemporary requirements, have introduced innovations in producing cushion covers, hand bags, shopping bags, letter holders, fans, screens etc. For centuries, Dumbara valley of the Kandy district has been famous for its production of mats with Distinctive design and colour schemes.

Pal Kavi (watch hut verses)

පෙර කලේ  තැනූ පැල දැන්      දිරාලා
එම කලේ  බැඳපු වැට ගොනු    කඩාලා
පැල්පතේ ගොයම් රැ රැක         බලාලා
නිදිමතේ  කියමු පැල් කවි         ගොතලා

Pera kale thanu pala dan     dirala
Ema kale badapu wata gonu     kadala
Palpathe Goyam ree raka     balala
Nidimathe kiyamu pal kavi     gothala

Goyam Kavi

රන් දෑ  කැති  ගෙන  නිති      සැරසෙනවා ….
රන්  වන් පටි …   වට           දිලිසෙනවා …..
හිරු  දුටු  පිනිබිඳු  ලෙස         පහවෙනවා ….
දුම්බර කෙතේ අපී  ගොයම්    කපනවා ……..

Ran dekathi gena nithi         sarasenawa
Ran wan pati wata             dilisenawa
Hiru dutu pini bindu lesa         pahawenawa
Dumbara kethe api goyam         kapanawa

Nelum Kavi (Weeding verses)

ඉරට  වැඳලා  ඉර  දෙවි  අවසර           ගනිමූ……..
සඳට  වැඳලා  සඳ  දෙවි  අවසර           ගනිමූ …….
ගොයමට වැඳලා ගොයමින් අවසර       ගනිමූ …….
සබයට  වැඳලා  සබයෙන්  අවසර        ගනිමූ ……

Irata wdala ira devi awasara             ganimu
Sandata Wadala sanda devi awasara         ganimu
Goyamata Wadala goyamin awasara     ganimu
Sabayata wandala sabayen awasara         ganimu

Karaththa Kavi (Bullock cart verses)

කලු ගල් තලාලයි පාරට         දමන්නේ
එම ගල් පෑගිලයි ගොන් කුර         ගෙවෙන්නේ
ගොනා නොවෙයි හරකයි බර         අදින්නේ
කිරිගල්පොත්ත කන්දයි මේ         අදින්නේ

Kalu gal thalalai parata         damanne
Ema gal pagilai gon kara         gewenne
Gona nowei harakai bara         adinne
Kirigal potta kandai me         adinne

Bambara Kavi (Wasp bee verses)

නයා ගොඩේ  බින්තැන්නේ  ගස          සැදුණා
අතු ඇවිදින්  ගහ වටකර  සෙවන           වුණා
ඉටා පැණි  බඹරු ඒවාට  පුරුදු               වුණා
උල්ලපොල  ගමට පළවෙනි  ගස         සැදුණා

Naya gode binthanne gasa             saduna
Athu avidin gaha watakara sewana         una
Ita pani bamaru ewata purudu         una
Ullapola gamata palaweni gasa         saduna

Gata Beraya

A typical Sinhala dance is defined as Kandy dance, and Gathabera is the ideal drum for this dance.this drum generates two different sounds. It is played with free hands-on ceremonial occasions. It’s made with ‘Asala’, ‘Kohomba’ or ‘Kos’ timber. In order to generate two different sounds, the left of the drum is made with cowhide and the right, with monkey skin (lives around dummala trees) and bound tightly with tough leather. Geta Beraya is well depicted in the Panavitiya Abbalama wood carvings.

Yak Beraya

Yak-Bera is a drum for voice-over of a demon dance. And also the drum is used in the lowland part of the country. During the performance of a musical-dance number, the actors wear masks and perform the devil’s dances. Now this is a fairly advanced form of art. Yak beraya is made from the timber of the Kithul tree. This instrument is played using the free hand and is about 3 feet in length. It is mainly used in the lower country of Sri Lanka for Thowil and the perehares (procession).

Dawula

Dawula is the barrel-shaped drum of the indigenous inhabitants of the province of Sabaragamuwa. it’s used as an accompanying drum to stay up the severity of the beat rhythm. This drum is made using Kithul timber. they’re decorated with exquisite art and brass strips. Cowhide is used and is played with a stick called ‘Kaduppu’.

Thalampata

Thalampata called two colliding drums. The drummer strikes the drum on two surfaces with sticks, unlike other traditional drums for Sri Lanka . it’s a satellite drum with the above-mentioned Dawula. Small though they’re , the thalampata play an important role in Sri Lankan dance. These small cymbals, joined along with a string, beat out complex rhythms in traditional Kandyan dance. The thalampata typically makes two sounds – ‘thith’ and ‘thei’, which chime to the shake of a dancer’s body.

Rabana

Rabana is a round drum with a flat end and is produced in several sizes. the largest of them should be placed on the ground. As a rule, several people (usually women) sit round the instrument and beat it with both hands. this system is used in festivals like the Sinhala New Year and the marriage ceremonies. A loud blow to Raban symbolizes joyful moods in accordance with the occasion.Small Rabanas are a sort of mobile drums. On them the performer produces accompanying rhythms for parts of the musical composition.

Udarata Natum or Upcountry Dance as it names it is derived in hill country. Therefore, it is called Kandyan Dance. Though its origin is in Upcountry, the dance form is practice all over the country. The upcountry dance form is mostly performed in the open air. This dance is performed as an offering to the gods. The dance is followed by  Gata Beraya and reciting  of blessing hymns. There are a series of rituals in the Kandya Dance to invoke blessings for the people. Kohombayak Kankariya is a famous ritual in the upcountry dance. The majestic Wes Dance attract the audience for several minutes. The Wes Dancer with the glamour of costume represent the Mahasammatha King, the first king of the world.

Pahatharata Natum
Pahatharata or Law-country dance is also a special Sri Lankan traditional dance form practiced all over the country. As the name of the dance says it was originated in down south of the country called Pahatharata. This form of dance also has its own identity as upcountry dance style. The same system is followed to form the dance form with ritualistic based to bless the people and the country. The dance is followed by pahatarata bera (drum) and hymns invoking blessings. It is mostly involved with rituals in healing to the inhuman characters such as devil demons and dead.  The Kolam dance makes the audience smile and heal their mental and physical illnesses.The dance Thelme is one of attractive dance which invoke blessings showing the strength of dancers.

Masks Dance
The masks dance is famous in down south with the law country dance tradition. The dancer wears different kinds of masks to show the character to the audience to attract them. There are three kinds of Masks Dances.

1. Kolam Masks are mostly used in storytelling performances.
2. Raksha (Demon) Masks are used in processions and festivals.
3. Sanni (Devil Dance) Masks are used in curing ceremonies.

This picture is a famous Mask Dance to invoke blessings for the diseased people.

These performances are rare on stage and the rural villages hold during their special occasions.