The Galle Coast is a highlight for those interested in learning more about Arts and Crafts in Sri Lanka. The arts are a stimulating way to explore Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage, from studying the paintings adorning ancient temples to learning about the vibrant, bizarre masks used for dances and rituals. The areas surrounding Galle Fort are famed for their arts and crafts, particularly Ambalangoda, a small coastal town renowned as the artistic hub of Sri Lanka.
Go on an art tour with an award-winning craftsman, who has his own shop within Galle Fort and has acted as a supplier for Barefoot for two decades. He will take you on a fast-paced tour of workshops in Ambalangoda, where you can learn all about traditional Sri Lankan crafts including batik, mask-making and puppetry, before showing you a temple which houses the largest reclining Buddha statue in Asia and is adorned with colourful frescoes.
Alternatively, get more hands on and try your hand at mask-making yourself. After an introduction to the history of masks in Sri Lanka and how they are used, sit down and carve your own from start to finish – the perfect souvenir.
There are also ways to explore art in Sri Lanka within Galle Fort. Visit one of the quirky art galleries which showcase a selection of traditional and abstract art; check out the traditional crafts at Sithuvili, and explore Barefoot which is well-known for its wide selection of contemporary crafts and fabrics.
Mask-Making Workshop
Galle Fort, Galle Coast
A hands-on workshop which introduces you to the use of masks in Sri Lankan culture and demonstrates the stages of traditional mask carving from start to finish as you attempt to make one yourself.
Duration: 3 hours
Best time: Year-round
