Art & Music

Snapshot

From temple paintings to contemporary design, the creative arts are vibrant and readily available for purchase in Sri Lanka. Just stroll down Colombo seven’s leafy Green Path where art works are displayed right along on the road. These are created by young students and other local artists. Purchasing directly from them ensures a much needed income which supplements their studies or full-time jobs. Once a year, Green Path becomes a hive of activity with the `Kala Pola’ – an art fair where artists from the regional towns also bring in their creations to sell. Works of well known local artists including George Keyt, Ivan Peries, Richard Gabriel, Lionel Wendt, Senaka Senanayake, Jagath Weerasinghe, Druvinka, and Muhanned Cader are exhibited in galleries such as the National Art Gallery, Sapumal Foundation, the Lionel Wendt, Barefoot Art Gallery and Paradise Road Gallery Café.

Classical to contemporary fusion local music in Sinhala, Tamil and English is available on CD at various outlets in Colombo, Hikkaduwa, and Kandy. Take home a CD of the Hikka drummers and if you’re lucky, you’ll be able to see them performing live in Hikkaduwa whilst on your travels.