In the Colombo District Ihala Kosgama area in Baregala is a village where people engage in the making of handicrafts. The main handicraft product made in this area are masks. The materials used to carve the masks is the Kaduru wood. Once the mask is carved out of wood it has to be dried well before it is painted. The mask can be dried in the hot sun or evening sun as the wood has the capacity to be dried under these conditions.
The benefit of using this wood is that it does not collect pus on the surface. After the wooded masks are dried well they are artistically painted. Red, black, yellow and white colours are used to paint the masks. A variety of masks in different shapes and sizes are carved out of the wood. Once they are painted the masks have to be dried in the sun again to get the final finish to the product. The masks are then sent to the market for sale.
“But sadly the number of people engaged in the carving and painting of these masks has reduced over the years. .”
The few remaining people in the industry include Mr Simeon, Mr Wimalasena and Mr Wijesena who have for generations engaged in this industry. If not for these people the industry would have died a natural death years ago.
The main problem faced by these craftsmen is not having a good market to sell their products and the shortage of raw materials in the market. The shortage of kaduru trees has resulted in the shortage of raw materials. This area once had many kaduru trees but now most of these trees have been destroyed. The craftsmen have to face many hardships and financial issues.
Due to the shortage of the kaduru wood and the high prices that have to be paid to buy the wood could result in the craftsmen not getting a good profit for their products. Craftsmen say even though they can get kaduru wood from other areas and make the masks they cannot sell them in the market.
If this industry is to survive in the future and the generations of craftsmen protected then measures have to be taken to supply the craftsmen with the required raw materials and a good market found for them to sell their products. The relevant authorities must address the problems faced by the craftsmen if they are to continue to work in this industry. If the remaining craftsmen give up the carving of masks that would be the end to an industry of cultural and national heritage in the country.
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