Sri Lanka is famous for tea, beaches, temples and ancient ruins. But some of the island’s most remarkable treasures are much smaller—and they can disappear quietly.
They are found in the hands of craftspeople.
A woven mat made from natural fibre. A lace pattern created thread by thread. A wooden mask carved with a face that seems to carry an entire legend. A piece of lacquerware...
What if a piece of woven fabric could tell you where it came from, who made it, and how generations of Sri Lankan craftsmanship survived into the modern world?
That is the story behind Dumbara weaving.
Known in Sinhala as Dumbara Rata, this traditional craft is associated particularly with the Dumbara region around Kandy and Matale. What may look like a simple woven mat or wall hanging is...
