On the way to Talagune

by Prasad Abu Bakr

It was late when my friends and I walked into the ?Earls Regency in Kandy?, there were guests from a concluded wedding reception hanging around the entrance waiting for there limousines to drive up and we hurried past them trying to get our rooms organized.

General Manager Tusith Samaraweera who kindly agreed to have my visit to Talagune organized and accommodate me at this five star resort had made all arrangements keep my room and also reserve a room for my friends who were there for a show organized by film and TV star Kamal Addararachchi. (see page 3 of this issue for fashion show pictures)

My room number was 202 and as my friends were put on the 3rd floor we got my room too on the same floor . This is not my first time at this hotel and I have always enjoyed staying her. But this time it was after a long spell and the rooms have under gone minor changes and the most noticeable being that the balcony's have been enclosed on one side affording more privacy to guests wishing to sit out enjoying the breathtaking views.

The rooms are well appointed with all modern amenities including satellite TV and Coffee service.

Since it was long past dinner time and also because we kind od "Dined' on Hot Hoppers and Seeni Sambol and 'Wined' ?by the road side in Kegalle at away side 'Kade' we were all rather full.

But since we planned to sit on the balcony for a well extended "Goz' session I thought it sensible at least have a Club Sandwich on stand by just in case our stomachs called for some kind of re-filling during those late hours.

The night was still as we watched many of the illumination from the main hotel, visible looking like a lantern hanging out far way from where we were seated in the balcony of my hotel room. It was almost 2.00 am when we decided to call it a day and retire.

The morning was pleasant and fog was hanging out of the bedroom window with the main hotel building where most of the public areas are situated looked framed by the mountain lines in the background was beginning to appear through the disappearing mist as sunlight was showing signs of getting stronger.

The hotel was full with many foreign guests, I noticed a few Indians (by theshawls of the ladies) and their was a blind flutist playing some tunes to serenade the guests.

The buffet style spread was big enough to choose from. I love my Kola Kenda and fruits in any case, which I stop at with a cup of coffee to wind up if I was at home but this was a weekend out and I further settled for an American breakfast before my cup of coffee.

Then it was time to drive out to Talagune, to where my friends obliged by driving me to, saving the generous General Manager the trouble of having to send me cheuffeur driven as we agreed before.

This was my second visit to Talagune in 2 years. The first time I dropped in there on my way back from Mahiyangana where I went to write an article about Dambana, where the Veddas roam. That was way back in 1998.

I was a little unfamiliar about the routon the way up, so a few inquiries here and there helped us to lead on. But most people did not know Talagune by name as much as ?Udu Nuwara? where this little hamlet is situated.

On the way we decided to sit by a roadside boutique where a woman was making tea and had Bees honey for sale at 500 rupees a bottle. Her little daughter faced my friends camera with total professionalism, posing 'model like' and I was joking suggesting that we should get her into a contract with 'Model Network' the famous model agency that have sprung up recently. A hot glass of 'Kahata' with a piece of Kithul Jaggery and we were on our way. it took us 2 and 1/2 hours to reach Talagune.

A village where most of the Dumbara weaving families live. But what I noticed this time around is that families engaged in the craft had become lesser in number over that period of eight years when I first visited the place. Yes! its a struggle they said.

There is one family which works with a number of weavers and keep a evolving pace owing to the support they receive from ?Barefoot?, which orders a substantial amount which helps them survive. There are yet others who sustain owing top a few other craft shops in the city who place orders.

The support of the government sector in this area has dwindled to a zero stage over the years and today these craftsmen actually look outside the government sector for survival.

So the effort of design developing or marketing strategies that sometimes go along with state sponsorship does not reach these workers who engage in an age old craft which has a large potential in the export market. been weaving since A.K.T.Somawansa has 75 as it was a family involvement but with Barefoot coming into the scene in 86 he said they improved by employing outsiders to meet the demand .

Somawansa said that his ancestors have been weaving for the royal court and their work was used to dress up the highest order of Nilames who lead the earlier stages the Kandy Perahera. Somawansa who was carpenter by profession only helped his wife who was weaving small time in the past. But since 86 he too gave up his work and joined in with his wife , today his whole family is involved and there areover 15 workers in the unit.

A little further away we visited Y Premachandra who has been in businesssince 35 years. He does it in a small scale and has about 6 people working with him. He said there are over 35 families involvrd in Dumbara Weaving but most of them have a difficult time trying to sell their produce said

Premachandra. Beside the regular wall hangings which are noted as Dumbara Weaves there a few other items too, like place mats, cushion covers, bags and pennants. What I see here too is that most of our crafts are price marked with thetourist in mind making local drift away from purchasing anything of this nature.

A large part of what is produced too are sold in Colombo only at certain points patronised by the elite, it is not sold locally even in Talagune. As in anything connected to the travel sector in this country our craftsman too have to wait for that elusive traveller to appear if they are to survive.

As it was getting late for my friends who had to attend a function at the hotel that evening we decided tio get back from this rather picturesque surrounding back to Earls Regency where I had to do a bit of interviewing and photographing myself.