The Art of Mask Making in Sri Lanka

Making masks required for traditional mask dancing is a specialized art from carried out by members of traditional dancing families and specialized school. Even though the mask production is guided or based on verses called embun kavi and the study of master masks (gurn mubuna) preserved with dancing families each one is different depending on the skills of the craftsmen, their theoretical knowledge and the tools they use. Due to these reasons masks made in different areas exhibit variations.

The purpose of this book is to access the creative techniques and methods adopted in making masks. It gives an account on the method of wearing and the art of performance practiced in the tradition. This is written by an artist who has experience in mask dancing It also gives an account on the present culture of mask making.
The origin of the low country dance is from the western and the southern provinces of Sri Lanka.