Is the mask industry extinct?

By Ananda Kannangara

Mask dancers in action

A tourist buying masks at the Ariyapala Industry

The late British civil servant and former Assistant Government Agent of Hambantota Leonard Woolf who was in Sri Lanka during colonial rule, once said our country has a valuable history of 2500 years and it is the duty of the people to protect its culture and heritage.

Leonard Woolf briefly mentioned about the Lankan heritage in his book `Village in the jungle'. During his leisure, he walked the jungles for hours and talked to villagers.

Once while travelling to the ancient city of Colombo, all the way from Hambantota on a directive of an official in Colombo he had to stop at Ambalangoda to have a little break. During his brief stay, he had the opportunity to speak a few words with some villagers who were very conversant with the language.

Leonard Woolf was accompanied by these villagers to several places where traditional craftsmen were engaged in the mask and puppet manufacturing industry. Some workers were making masks, while others were painting them.

This was a novel experience far this British civil servant. Although he had visited places in Hambantota where fishermen were engaged in the fishing industry, this was the first time he had an opportunity to see the traditional craftsmanship of Sri Lankans. He was overwhelmed by what he saw.

Now masks are mainly used by the people in thovils, and yakun natuma or devil dance rituals. It is a carefully crafted ritual reaching as far back as the pre Buddhist era.

Masked dance rituals of the southern coast provides a rich and fascinating study. For the collector these ritual masks represent a sophisticated folk art form. Carved out of wood, these masks are pigmented with different hues and resins and infused with a spirit that demands attention.

The Sunday Observer visited several villages in Ambalangoda to see the development of the traditional mask manufacturing and the puppet industry.

The owner of Ariyapala masks manufactory in Ambalangoda, Rukman Wijesuriya related the history of mask manufacture in Sri Lanka and said the mask-making industry begun by his great grandfather Edoris de Silva in Ambalangoda. He lived during the colonial period between 1798 and 1868.

"After the death of Edoris de Silva, the business was taken over by my father Ariyapala de Silva who was born in 1901. He developed the business to a great extent and both locals and foreigners were delighted with the numerous shapes of masks, manufactured by our craftsmen."

He said even today, a large number of foreign nationals stop here on their way Down South and purchase masks.

"We have a mask museum and locals and foreigners will never miss visiting the museum while passing this way."

Manager, Ariyapala Masks Industry, U.L. Gunaratne said over 500 masks are generally sold a month, and this number exceeds during the tourists season between November to January.

He said the Government support is badly needed to expand the mask industry and urged authorities to visit Ambalangoda and discuss problems relating to the business and find out the shortcomings.

According to Gunaratne, good quality masks are manufactured with `Kaduru' timber and they could also be manufactured with low quality timber.

He said his factory makes masks only from 'Kaduru' and this is the secret that for the business continuing for the past two centuries.

He requested authorities to allocate State lands to plant `Kaduru' trees, unless people who engage in the industry use low quality timber to manufacture masks.

Fifty-year old Gunadasa Perera, of Ambalangoda said he has been in the mask manufacturing industry for the past 35 years and said that unlike earlier, this industry will not exist unless the Government gives a helping hand to develop it.

He proposed that Sri Lanka Tourist Board to urge tour guides to bring tourist groups to mask manufacturing factories and sales centres, in Ambalangoda, so that we could earn a good income from these masks.

A small-scale mask manufacturer, David Singho requested President Mahinda Rajapaksa to visit their factories in Ambalangoda, so that he could personally look into their grievances.

He said in addition to a few large-scale mask manufacturers in Ambalangoda, most manufacturers are doing the business to earn the day's living.

He requested the Government to introduce a pension scheme for mask manufacturers to lead a happy life, because they have toiled hard.

A famous puppet manufacturer and dancer in Ambalangoda, Nalin Gamvary who won several awards for performing puppets at various functions said the traditional puppet industry will become a dying industry, unless the Government extends support for the persons, engaged in the industry.

"Although this industry has a history of over 200 years, people will give up puppet performances, because only a few people seek our services now".

He requested Government authorities to have their performances at State functions, so that they could earn some money for their living.

Gamvary, who won awards at the State Drama Festivals in 1996, 1998 and 2006 said he was invited to President's House to perform a puppet show last month and he was able to present one of his creations to the President at the function .

He said he requested the President to help them to uplift the industry and also to grant a monthly pension to enable them to lead a happy life.

He also requested authorities to help them to perform "Puppet shows" at State functions, at the Bandaranaike Airport to welcome tourists, school functions, musical shows and other functions, so that their industry could continue.

He said he handed over a letter to the President last month mentioning the problems, faced by puppet manufacturers and wish to have a reply as early as possible. "I hope the President will look into our grievances and extend a helping hand to develop this industry,"

Gamvary also said that he had performed puppet shows at least in 20 countries, including Japan, Australia, India and Taiwan.

He also said a foreign film-maker from Finland had come to Sri Lanka a few years ago, and filmed a puppet show under water in the sea. The name of the film was `Under water kingdom'. He said a group of 12 persons came from Finland and they filmed a two-hour show under water and it was around 12.00 midnight.

A long-standing puppet maker Sandun Siri of Amblangoda said his business is running at a loss, because people who are performing shows are not buying their goods like earlier. He urged the authorities to make arrangements to perform puppet shows at their functions , so that it will help people who are engaged in the industry to develop it.

He also urged officials to conduct an exhibition of puppets and masks in Colombo, so that it will showcase and develop the industry.

Pix : by - R. Gnanadasa - Ambalangoda Group