Sri Lanka’s south coast has long been the bastion of traditional healing rituals and folk drama, which is now a dwindling art form, and central to these performances are decorative masks that portray the various characters of the story. The family-run Ariyapala Masks Museum in Ambalangoda preserves this rich heritage in its museum cum workshop where masks are produced according to the tradition handed down over five generations of the family. The museum provides in-depth information on the characters portrayed by the masks, from the demonic to the comedic, and at the adjoining workshop, the actual process that goes into making a mask can be seen.

Written by Jonathan Roelofsz for Travel Lanka Compass