PALMYRAH - PALM
1. THE KATPAHAM
This is a palm tree that grows abundantly in the northern and eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka and in the districts of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, and Hambantota. This is where the craft is also practised widely as the tender leaf used for the craft work is found throughout the year. The pulp, sap, leaf, fibre, and timber of the palm are used. In ancient mythology this tree is known as '
katpaham' or a wish-giving tree that provides 800 products; palm products have a lot of nutritional and medicinal significance. This tree is a source of food and also provides the raw material for handicrafts.
2. PROCESS
The palm leaves are boiled, dried, dyed, and slit into strips; they are then woven into products like table mats, file covers, bags, baskets, wall hangings, hats, trays, containers, fans and similar items. The tender leaves are dried in the shade for about two to three days. At this stage the
ekels (central stick-like portion of a leaf) are separated from the leaves and then the leaves are cut to the required sizes. The leaves are then dyed in the colours needed for the articles to be made. The dyestuff is first dissolved in a vessel of cold water to which a quantity of acetic acid is added and the leaves are then immersed in this. This mixture is then boiled up to 100 degrees celsius. After an hour, the leaves are removed from the dye-bath and dried in the shade.
The fibrous portion of the tree known as
naar is extracted from the stalk of the palm fronds and this is used for weaving cots, seats, chairs and is seen as an alternative to cane.
An additional lustre is brought to the leaves by steaming them for about 2 to 3 minutes; this also prevents the leaves from being brittle. As the leaves are a little pale, they are bleached with a solution of 1% hydrogen peroxide in Lisapol N; it has been found that there is no uniformity in this process.
Palmyrah leaves are inclined to mould, mainly in humid climates. Brittleness of the leaves arises due to loss in moisture. Studies are still being conducted to find solutions to these problems.
3. TOOLS & EQUIPMENT
The equipment required for
palmyrah leaf processing include vessels for dyeing leaves and knives for slitting the leaves to the required sizes.
4. INTERVENTIONS
The
Palmyrah Development Board runs several programmes that look after the overall development of the
palmyrah palm sector. A lot of women are trained under these schemes in various crafts using
palmyrah as the base material. Marketing opportunities are also being provided to the craftspeople in the form of an exclusive emporium selling
palmyrah-based products in Colombo.
5. CRAFT LOCATIONS
This craft is widely practised in the northern and eastern parts of the country as mentioned previously.
- Ampara district (southeastern coast): in the villages of Kalmunai, Tirukkovil, Adalachchena, and Akaraipattu.
- Batticaloa district (eastern coast): in the villages of Puthukudiyirrupu, Koduwamadu, Kathiraveli, Eruvil, and Panichankeny.
- Hambantota district (southernmost tip of the island): in the villages of Labuhengoda and Chitragala.
- Jaffna district (northernmost tip of the island-country): in the villages of Thikkam, Puttur, Karaveddy, Chavakachcheri, Messalai, Kaithadi, Elavalai, Mandativu, Delft, Eluvativu, Velanai, Puloly West, and Alavai South.
- Kandy district (central part of the country): in the village of Madawala.
- Kegalle district (next to Colombo district): in the village of Mangadera.
- Kilinochchi district (in the northern part of the island): in the villages of Pooneriyan and Pallai.
- Mannar district (on the northwestern coast): in the villages of Erukkulampiddi, Pesalai, and Talaimannar.
- Mullaitivu district: in the villages of Puthukkudiyiruppu, Mathan, Thaniruttu, and Almit.
- Puttalam district (south of Mannar): in the villages of Kanaketiya, Illippadeniya, Wanathavillu, Serukele, Peramakkutuwa, Kirikattiya, and Sangattikulam.
TALIPOT - PALM LEAF
1. TRADITIONS
The
talipot palm (
Corypha Umbraculifera) grows widely in the districts of Kurunegala, Kegalle, Kandy, and Moneragala. The processed
talipot palm leaf was the early writing material used in Sri Lanka. Buddhist scriptures were committed to writing as far back as the first century A.D., and the seasoned tender leaf of the
talipot palm was used for writing on. The words were inscribed with a stylus, the text being made visible by the application of a black paste, which was cleaned with sifted rice bran, leaving the inscribed lettering in deep black.
These
ola books as they are called can last for several centuries when looked after carefully. Several specimens of the
kadupul or
parasatu or
sina-mala, an ancient flower motif with a sword-like projection from the centre, are found on
ola book covers; this has been recorded by Manjusri in his treatise
Design Elements in Sri Lankan Temple Paintings. The
liyawela motif, a composition of leaves, branches, flowers, buds, and tendrils, are also found gracing the
ola book covers of old, mainly as a border motif. The execution of these motifs is characterised by delicacy and precision. The
katuru mala or
katiri mala, a flower motif characterised by the crossing of petals resembling a pair of scissors - along with the variation of the
vaka deka motif - is found abundantly in the
ola book covers, as is a geometrical design called
havadiya or
weldangaraya or
Havadidangaraya, a chain motif. The tradition of committing Buddhist scriptures to writing is still maintained in the Buddhist temples of Sri Lanka.
2. PRODUCTS
In Kurunegala this leaf is used to make baskets in which tea is packed for export. In the last 50 years several government schemes have been introduced whereby this leaf is used as the raw material for making products like table-mats, purses, file covers, market bags, and wall hangings. A special marketing bag called
geta-malla is made with
talipot ekels wrapped with strips of
talipot leaf. These bags are of different sizes and are very popular with the tourists.
3. PROCESS & TOOLS
The preparation of the material for weaving is very similar to that used for
wetakiya and
Indikola. The leaf is boiled for three hours and is then dried in the sun for three days. The leaf still has a brownish colour, so it is exposed in the night for two days which helps bleach the leaves. When the leaves have to be dyed, they are boiled in the dye bath just like other materials.
Weaving is the technique used in making items using this material. When the weaving has to be done, the leaves are slit into strips of the required width depending on the article to be made. A mat is first woven and then it is cut to the required dimensions and sewn. The motifs used are geometrical and cross-stitch patterns are incorporated in the process of weaving.
The equipment used in this craft are vessels for boiling and dyeing the leaf, sharp knives for slitting the leaves and a pair of scissors for cutting the mats to required sizes and equipment for the sewing.
4. INTERVENTIONS
This craft is practised locally throughout the country wherever this palm grows. There is a government-sponsored project in Kurunegala district to plant a huge parcel of land with
talipot palms. As the
talipot leaf is used for a lot of purposes there is a need for an accelerated programme of planting of the same.
EKELWARE
1. RAW MATERIAL & PRODUCTS
The raw material used for this is the
ekel obtained from the undried leaf fronds of the coconut tree. There is hardly any processing to be done except the removal of the green leaf. These
ekels are then woven into various types of baskets, trays, table-mats, and flower vases.
2. CRAFT LOCATIONS
- Gampaha district (next to Colombo): in the villages of Gampaha, Rideegala, Mirigama, and Kirindiwela,
- Kandy district (about 225 kilometres form Colombo): Ekel brooms are made in the villages of Kuragala and Kuragandeniya.
- Kegalle district (close to Colombo, on the route to Kandy): in the village of Galpatha.
- Kalutara district (south-western cost): in the villages of Pohaddaramulla, Waskaduwa, Talpitiya, Pothpitiya, and Kaluwamodara.
- Matara district (southern tip of the island): in the villages of Thamiliyaoula, Pelkiripitiya, Kotavila, Dandeniya, Muruthamure, Henegama, Palalla, and Alkgoda.
SAVANDARA
1. RAW MATERIALS & PRODUCTS
These are the roots of the
savandra plant; they are cleaned and dried in the sun and are used by the craftspeople to make fans. This plant has medicinal and aromatic value.
2. TECHNIQUES & TOOLS
The fan frame is made of wire and it is covered with strips of palm leaves over which the
savandara roots are woven. The tools required for this craft are wire for frame and strips of
talipot leaf for wrapping around the wire frame.
3. MARKETS
The market for these products is small and it can be expanded only when more innovative designs and products are introduced. This is still a local craft practised mainly in the areas where rush and palm are found all over the country.
HANA - FIBRE
1. THE RAW MATERIAL
The highly traditional
dumbara mats and tapestries, along with other products, are made from
hana, which is a fibre. In the early part of this century, the
kinnara tribals - traditional weavers of
dumbara mats - used the fibre from the xerophytic
niyanda leaf (
Sansivieria Zeylanica) which is much softer than the fibre from
hana (
Agave Sisalana); however, in contemporary times, as the supplies of the
niyanda are not available in the requisite quantities, the xerophytic
hana is used.
Hana itself is not available within easy reach: the craftspeople have to walk long distances into remote areas in the Nuwara-Eliya district to collect them. The name of the
dumbara mats is derived from the Dumbara Valley where the
kinnaras have been practising this craft for ages, weaving on a loom very similar to the textile loom.
2. PROCESS, TECHNIQUE, & IMPLEMENTS
The first step is the extraction of the fibre from the leaf: this is done manually. The thorny point and the edges of the leaf are cut off and placed on a log called the
niyanda poruwa. It is then rubbed hard with a sharp-edged instrument of wood called
gavilla whereby the green fleshy part of the leaf blade is removed exposing the white fibre. This is a very tedious process and is done mostly by women who work half a day to remove about 50 leaves per head. This fibre is then washed clean and dried in the sun. After this the fibre is combed with a comb of
kitul fibre called
niyanda kossa and is then bundled into skeins called
valladuwa.
The warp threads are spun on a spindle called
nul idda; the spinning is done with the right hand and the strands of fibre being drawn with the left from the skein are thrown on the left shoulder of the spinner. This process is done by both men and women while sitting, standing, walking, or talking. The fibre is then dyed in a pot of boiling water; the dye is added to this. The fibre is immersed in this for 15 minutes. In some cases the fibre is boiled in the dye mixture to which some salt has been added for the process to be much more successful.
3. COLOURS
The traditional colours used as dyes are black, yellow, and red; dyeing is done before the weaving process.
- Red is obtained by boiling the fibre with patangi (Caesalpinia Sappan) wood, korakaha (Memycylon Umbellatum) leaves, and gingelly oil and seeds.
- Yellow is obtained from a decoction of veni-vel (Coscinium Fenestratum).
- Black is obtained with the help of gall nuts, aralu, and bulu (Terminalia Chebula and T erminalia Beleria).
These vegetable dyes fade considerably in a year or two. In today's times foreign dyes are used for the dyeing process.
4. Weaving & the Loom
The process of weaving is known as
dig-ghanawa or
heda-lanawa. The yarn spun on the spindle is used as the warp thread and the weft elements are not spun at all but consist of parallel fibres of the width of the mat. The loom is a low horizontal structure - something like the loom used for cotton weaving but much more primitive. There is no
alvala or pit for the weaver's feet. The loom operator squats on the mat itself supported by a few flat logs between it and the ground. The pattern for the mat is picked up by the weaver's lath or
vema. This lath has an eye at one end and serves as a bodkin with which the weft threads are drawn through the warp. A
sleay or
alu karala - similar to the cotton weaver's, but not suspended - is used to drive the weft home.
The raising and separation of alternate warp threads to form a shed is brought about by very primitive type of heddles known as
vela kadduva. The loops of the heddles through which warp threads pass do not move. Every alternate warp thread passes through a loop. The separation of alternate threads to form the shed is effected by the movement of two wooden rods placed on the far side of the tripod. One of the rods (
uttara pata or
kontaliya) rests on the warp and the other (
pannam-bate) passes between alternate threads of it. The relative movement of these rods raises and separates alternate threads on the near side of the heddles. The warp is carried on two rods -
kotta kura and
andina kanda. The
kotta kura is tied to a stouter rod (
heda kanda), which is fastened to sticks which are firmly driven into the ground. At the other end the
andina kanda is tightly strained by two cords (kadu-pa-lanu) attached to two posts (
kalal-kanu) in the ground. The heddles are supported by a tripod arrangement of sticks (
tun-pa kolle) which is shifted along as the work progresses.
The warp is laid in two operations. The spun thread or
nul is unwound from the spindle and broken and then passed through the heddles and through the teeth of the
sley or reed. The short ends left projecting through the teeth are tied temporarily to prevent them from slipping out. The remainder of the warp is then laid to the required length and the threads are broken off to be joined to the short ends projecting through the heddles.
When the weaving is finished the projecting ends of the fibre at each end of the mat are turned up over a thread drawn tight along the edge (like a piping cord). Each one of the threads is knotted to it by another thread, which catches up each projecting end in a slip knot, thus forming a neat binding.
For
hana products other than the
dumbara mats, the yarn is prepared initially in the same way. Three strands of the yarn are spun together to form the basic material. A rope is made which is arranged to the required shape or design; this is then stitched together firmly using the same fibre for the stitching.
5. TOOLS & EQUIPMENT
The tools and equipment required for this craft include tools to decorticate the leaf by which the fibre is extracted, the
niyanda poruwa or log used to scrape the leaf, a sharp-edged strip of wood called
gavilla, a comb of
kitul fibre known as
niyanda kossa, the spindle or
nul idda, and a hand-loom for the weaving.
6. MOTIFS AND DESIGNS
Traditional Sinhalese Motifs: Some of the motifs found in mat-weaving are rarely found in modern work - they are the traditional Sinhalese motifs. These include the
lanu-getaya (variations of the plait motif), vangagiriya (a motif of small squares representing small cells occupied by Prince Vessantra and Madri Devi from the
Vessantara Jataka one of the 550 of the Jataka tales called as
Pansiyapanas Jata Pota),
bhayankara (geo metrical pattern of a Chinese-chequer game board design),
taraka-piyum (geometrical pattern of alternate squares in the same colour),
haras-ratawa (vertical line pattern),
idda-mal-piyum (concentric design of diamonds),
ata-peti-mala (eight petal flower design in a square ),
mal-petta (flower petal motif in a square),
gal-piyum (vertical pattern of diamonds set within two parallel lines),
sevvandi-mala (eight petal floral motif formed by a combination of small triangles and a square), also known as
kolamba-ratawa, and
kiribath-ratawa (this is a vertical pattern motif of triangles arranged symmetrically in two parallel lines set between two horizontal lines with a single triangle alternating with a double triangle). Some other examples are
tarava,
taraka-petta (star-flower pattern),
tumpola-lanuwa,
del-geta lanuwa (lanuwa-motifs are variations of plait or chequer designs), and
mal-gaha (flower-tree motif which was usually found on a Kandyan king's hat also called as the tree of life springing from a low triangular mound representing earth or rock). Motifs of a divine and mythical nature include
vajrasana (motif of a throne),
mihikatha (motif of Earth Goddess),
sataravaran devi-varu, and
mara-yudda (representation of Mara, Chief of demons and a great enemy of Buddha shown as attacking Buddha with innumerable hosts of demons, immediately previous to his attainment of Buddhahood). The motifs are communicated to the pupils through the mastercraftsmen after years of training. This process is described as hereditary transmission of craft from father to son and in the absence of a son the skill is taught to a very close blood relative.
Motifs from cultural and historical sources form an important category in handicraft-work; some examples are
vamana or dwarf, the brass lamp, and the devil dance mask, found in
dumbara hanaware.
The main book of instruction has always been the Sanskrit text,
Rupavaliya which deals with instructions on the drawing of the images of gods and mythical animals; another treatise -
Sariputra - deals with instructions on making the images of Buddha.
Animal & Bird Motifs: The mythical fish motif or
matsya is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and is found as a decorative motif in mat weaving. This is symbolically used to represent water. Specific birds - parrots, ducks, doves, grackles, and even peacocks - are mentioned in popular ballads like the 'Peduru Malaya', along with other nondescript birds as being widely depicted in the
dumbara mats. Animal motifs like hare, deer, elephant, horse, bull, and the open-hooded cobra are also mentioned in popular ballads as being widely depicted in
kalala mats or the
dumbara mats.
Geometrical Motifs: The
thanivel iruwa is a geometrical motif widely found in
dumbara mats, as is the
toran petta, which is found only in
dumbara mats. A floral geometric motif called
mal petta has as its variations
heen mal petta and
thun pehena mal petta, which are found in dumbara mats. The swastika is one of the 108 magul lakunu and has been recently adopted as a motif for the
dumbara mats. One ply plait or the chequer motif called
lanugetaya and its variations - such as the
lanu dangaya,
heen delgeta lanuwa, and
walalu lanuwa - are found in grass mats and in
dumbara mats.
7. CRAFT LOCATIONS
- Batticaloa district (on the eastern coast): in the villages of Kattankudi, Palamunai, Ollikulam, Kankeyan Oddai, Keechanpalam, and Paruthimunai.
- Kandy district (central part of the country): in the villages of Taldeniya and Udawala.
- Kegalle district (near Colombo, on the route to Kandy): in the villages of Badulupitiya and Devanagala.
- Kurunegala district (north of Colombo): in the villages of Kitalagama, Rambewa and Nikaweratiya.
- Matale district: in the village of Malhewa.
- Mullaitivu district (north of Vavuniya): in the villages of Vaddurakkal, Mulivakkal, Kanuvankum, and Kokuthoduvai.
- Nuwara eliya district (next to Kandy): in the village of Palle, Madanwala, Kotmale, Bowala, and Galauda.
- Puttalam district (on the western coast): in the village of Lunuwila.
- Ratnapura district (about 215 kilometres form Colombo): in the villages of Wikiliya and Belihuloya.
- Trincomalee district (on the north-eastern coast): in the village of Ralkuli.
- Vavuniya district (northern part of the country): in the villages of Annikulam, Madhukulam, Chalanpankulam, Nedukulam, and Kalmadhukulam.
8. PRODUCTS
Dumbara mat weaving is an ancient craft from the days of the royalty and so the craftspeople are held in high prestige and given a higher social status in comparison to the artisans weaving grass mats or
pang pedura. There is a ready local market for the
dumbara products like mats, wall hangings, ladies' purses, cushion covers, letter racks, table-mats, fly whisks, fans, screens, and cushion covers. The most popular product is the typical mat, which is generally used as a wall-hanging.
9. PROBLEMS & INTERVENTIONS
This craft has problems such as the passing away of master weavers without passing on the skills to disinterested youngsters and waning design quality. Some of the other problems are that the plants are available at a great distance from the areas in which the craftspersons reside and the price they have to pay leaves them with very little margins.
There is a concerted effort from the artisans to adapt the styles and designs to suit the contemporary needs. As a result of inputs from foreign consultants, there has been progress in using newer designs and colours. The product range now include more attractively designed ware that fetch better prices. There have been inputs from Sri Lankan design experts too in terms of newer colour combinations, pattern variations, and other changes in order to give a contemporary fresh look to the products.
NAVAPATTA - FIBRE
1. RAW MATERIAL
This material is from the bark of the
navapatta (
Sterculia Bhalangas) tree. There was an abundance of these trees growing in the Nawala village in Colombo district but it has become very scarce nowadays.
2. PROCESS
The material from the bark is stripped off and soaked in water for about 2.5 weeks for retting. This is then thoroughly washed, dried in the sun, cut into strips, and dyed. The dyeing process is done by boiling the fibre in a dye-bath. When the fibres are dry, they are woven into mats, table-mats, and purses. The weaving is done by hand using the toes to hold the base of the object while the hand interlaces the other fibres; the weaver is seated while this process is done. In making table-mats, purses, file covers and similar articles the mat is first woven and then bound or stitched together to form the required article. The strips are plaited into a long chain, which is coiled around the mould, and the edges are stitched together to make the hats. Finishing is done by lining the inside of the article with appropriate material and incorporating any other embellishments on the outside. The products made from the
navapatta are soft and smooth.
3. TOOLS & EQUIPMENT
The tools and equipment required for this craft include a retting tank for scaling the bark, earthen or aluminium vessels for the dyeing process, and moulds for making the hats.
4. CRAFT LOCATIONS
BANANA - FIBRE
1. INTERVENTIONS
There have been efforts from institutions like the Industrial Development Board of Sri Lanka to introduce banana fibre as a viable raw material for handicrafts. In several other Asian countries mainly Philippines, this has been used very successfully to make products like various grades of twine from which utility articles like bags, rugs, shoe soles, table- mats, trays, and hats are made.
This craft was first introduced in the Rambukkana area of Sri Lanka which is an area where banana grows widely. It was introduced chiefly as a craft for women and gradually extended to areas all around the country. The advantages which this craft enjoys are a vast supply of raw material resources, low capital investment, high employment potential, and the opportunity to promote an indigenous industry at the rural level.
A lot of attention has to be given at the processing stage so that there are few flaws in methods of extraction, purification, plaiting, and cording the fibre so that the final form of the created item appears as finished and elegant as any other. The market opportunities for the artisans are provided through exhibitions and fairs held all over the country. This raw material could be the viable alternative for the artisans involved in
hana craft as
hana is becoming very scarce all over the country.