The Timeless Art of Traditional Masks in Sri Lanka: A Complete Cultural and Medical Journey

Origins and Ancient Foundations

Archaeological Evidence and Early Development

The history of Sri Lankan masks stretches back much further than many realize. The history of Sri Lankan masks actually dates as far back as the 15th century, though some scholars suggest the tradition may be even older. Sri Lanka has inherited and been influenced by these traditions of mask making (vesmuhunu; වෙස් මුහුණු) and devil dancing mainly from the cities of Kerala and Malabar in India while Sri Lankan artisans have managed to incorporate more decorative techniques and colour in the masks that are manufactured today.

What makes Sri Lankan mask-making unique is how local artisans transformed these imported traditions, developing distinctly Sinhalese characteristics that reflect the island's Buddhist heritage, indigenous beliefs, and unique cultural synthesis. Sri Lanka has a distinctive mask heritage, and enjoys a living tradition in mask dance-drama: dozens of types of mask, many bizarre, are used in spiritual, secular, magical and even exorcism rituals.

Geographic Distribution and Regional Variations

Many Sri Lankan mask artisans ply their trade along the Western, South Western, and Southern coasts of the island. Mask carving first emerged in the low country coastal belt, particularly in Ambalangoda, Galle, Matara, and Mirissa. However, Ambalangoda has emerged as the undisputed center of this craft.

The geographic concentration isn't accidental. Kaduru trees grow in the marshy lands bordering these coastal areas, providing easy access to the preferred wood for mask carving. This natural resource availability helped establish and sustain the mask-making communities in these regions.

The Three Sacred Categories: Understanding Mask Typology

Sri Lankan traditional masks are not simply decorative objects but serve specific ritual and theatrical purposes. Masks are created for three different types of dancing rituals: Raksha, Sanni, and Kolam. Each category has distinct characteristics, purposes, and spiritual significance.

Raksha Masks: The Protective Demons

Raksha Masks: The Protective Demons

Among Sri Lanka’s most spectacular masks are the Raksha masks, or demon masks, which are primarily used in Kolam folk dramas and cultural rituals. The word Raksha refers to demons in Sinhalese tradition, and these masks represent powerful mythical beings who embody both chaos and protection. Although their appearance is fearsome—with bulging eyes, glaring fangs, and tongues dripping with menace—they were traditionally viewed as protectors, warding off evil spirits and safeguarding communities.

There are said to be twenty-four types of Raksha demons, though only a few remain widely performed today. Each mask carries its own symbolic meaning and visual style.

Naga Raksha – The Cobra Demon

The Naga Raksha, or Cobra Demon, is one of the most iconic Sri Lankan masks. It features a terrifying face framed by a cobra’s hood, often with multiple snakes rising above the head. In Sri Lankan mythology, serpents are both feared and revered as guardians of hidden treasures and water sources. The mask reflects this dual nature of fear and respect. In folk performances, the Naga Raksha symbolizes danger and poison, but also acts as a protective force, driving away harmful influences.

Maru Raksha – The Demon of Death

The Maru Raksha, or Demon of Death, is considered one of the most fearsome masks. Its exaggerated features represent death and mortality, reminding audiences of life’s inevitable end. The mask’s menacing expression and fiery colors are meant to strike fear, but within the cultural context it also functions as a protective spirit. By embodying death itself, the Maru Raksha was believed to guard against premature misfortune. In performances, it often represents the ultimate destructive force that characters must confront.

Gurulu Raksha – The Bird Demon

The Gurulu Raksha, also known as the Bird Demon, is often associated with the Garuda, the legendary bird from Hindu and Buddhist mythology. Its mask is adorned with a prominent beak, wings, and bright feathers, capturing the fierce majesty of a predatory bird. According to myth, only the Gurulu Raksha could overpower the cobra demons, symbolizing protection and salvation. In Sri Lankan performances, this mask represents strength, freedom, and deliverance from evil.

Rathnakuta Raksha – The Jewel-Headed Demon

The Rathnakuta Raksha is less frequently seen than the others but carries a distinctive visual presence. Typically painted in bright red with snake motifs around its crown, it symbolizes supernatural or royal power. The name “Rathnakuta” translates as “jewel peak,” and the mask is thought to signify wealth, authority, and protection. Its striking appearance makes it a favorite among artisans and collectors, even if its performance role is limited compared to the better-known Raksha.

Poornaka Raksha – The Mask of Completeness

The Poornaka Raksha represents abundance and completeness. While not as fearsome as the Naga or Maru masks, its role in Kolam performances is important for balancing the more destructive forces of the Rakshasas. Its design often features harmonious patterns and bold colors, symbolizing prosperity and the fullness of life. Though details of its mythology are not as well recorded, it is celebrated as one of the traditional set of Raksha masks, preserving the diversity of the demon pantheon.

Sanni Masks: The Healing Arsenal – A Comprehensive Medical Classification

The Sanni masks represent one of the most sophisticated aspects of traditional Sri Lankan spiritual medicine and one of humanity's earliest systematic approaches to disease classification.

Sanni yakuma, sometimes known as Daha ata sanniya (දහ අට සන්නිය), is a traditional Sinhalese exorcism ritual that combines elements of Ayurvedic medicine, Buddhist philosophy, and indigenous healing practices. These are used to treat illnesses while there are 18 sanni masks in use.

During these healing rituals, the exorcist will wear a Sanni (disease) mask. There are eighteen different Sanni masks, representing different illnesses. Legend has it that masks have the power to absorb the illness from the patient and transfer it to the spiritual realm. All Sanni masks are overseen by the terrifying Maha Kola, the chief demon spirit who governs all illness-causing entities.

The Complete Eighteen Sanni Masks

The Complete Eighteen Sanni: Ancient Disease Classification System

Each of the eighteen Sanni masks represents specific ailments with remarkable clinical accuracy that remains relevant to modern medical understanding:

1. Slesma Sanniya - Excess of Phlegm

• Associated Conditions: Phlegm-related diseases and epilepsy
• Mask Characteristics: Features suggesting respiratory distress
• Modern Medical Correlation: Respiratory diseases, bronchitis, pneumonia, and neurological disorders including epilepsy

2. Jala Sanniya - Dysentery

• Associated Conditions: Cholera and chills, severe diarrhea
• Mask Characteristics: Fiery red complexion representing fever and inflammation
• Modern Medical Correlation: Gastrointestinal infections, cholera, water-borne diseases

3. Kana Sanniya - Blindness

• Associated Conditions: Blindness and eye diseases
• Mask Characteristics: Missing or hollow eyes, dark eye sockets
• Modern Medical Correlation: Various forms of blindness, cataracts, glaucoma, ophthalmological conditions

4. Golu Sanniya - Dumbness

• Associated Conditions: Muteness and speech disorders
• Mask Characteristics: Wide open mouth with no teeth or tongue visible
• Modern Medical Correlation: Speech impediments, vocal cord disorders, aphasia, communication disabilities

5. Naga Sanniya - Poisoning

• Associated Conditions: Snake bites, venom poisoning, bad dreams about snakes
• Mask Characteristics: Serpent hoods, cobra imagery extending from facial features
• Modern Medical Correlation: Toxicology cases, venomous bites, food poisoning, toxic exposure

6. Kora Sanniya - Paralysis

• Associated Conditions: Lameness and paralysis, loss of motor function
• Mask Characteristics: Unilateral facial deformity, mouth slanted to one side
• Modern Medical Correlation: Stroke, paralysis, neurological disorders affecting motor function

7. Gini Jala Sanniya - Malaria

• Associated Conditions: Malaria and high fevers, burning sensations
• Mask Characteristics: Fiery red complexion with flames across forehead, resembling temperature charts
• Modern Medical Correlation: Malaria, typhoid, dengue fever, febrile illnesses

8. Amukku Sanniya - Vomiting

• Associated Conditions: Severe nausea, vomiting, stomach diseases
• Mask Characteristics: Green complexion with protruding tongue, mouth distorted towards right
• Modern Medical Correlation: Gastroenteritis, food poisoning, morning sickness, digestive disorders

9. Beeta Sanniya - Confused Behavior

• Associated Conditions: Non-spirit related mental confusion and disorientation
• Mask Characteristics: Features suggesting mental distress or confusion
• Modern Medical Correlation: Dementia, delirium, confusion states, cognitive disorders

10. Vatta Sanniya - Shaking Limbs

• Associated Conditions: Rheumatism, flatulence, involuntary movements
• Mask Characteristics: Signs of physical discomfort or trembling
• Modern Medical Correlation: Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, rheumatoid arthritis, movement disorders

11. Maru Sanniya - Delirium

• Associated Conditions: Delirium, approaching death, terminal conditions
• Mask Characteristics: Most fearsome appearance representing proximity of death
• Modern Medical Correlation: Terminal delirium, end-stage diseases, critical care conditions

12. Pissu Sanniya - Craziness

• Associated Conditions: Temporary insanity, acute psychiatric episodes
• Mask Characteristics: Wild, unpredictable facial features suggesting mental instability
• Modern Medical Correlation: Acute psychosis, manic episodes, schizophrenic breaks, severe mental illness

13. Butha Sanniya - Nonsensical

• Associated Conditions: Spirit-related insanity, irrational behavior
• Mask Characteristics: Demonic features suggesting supernatural influence
• Modern Medical Correlation: Chronic psychiatric conditions, personality disorders, treatment-resistant mental illness

14. Demala Sanniya - Bad Dreams

• Associated Conditions: Nightmares, sleep disturbances
• Mask Characteristics: Features suggesting sleep disturbance or foreign influence
• Modern Medical Correlation: Sleep disorders, PTSD-related nightmares, sleep-related anxiety

15. Deva Sanniya - Epidemic Disease

• Associated Conditions: Epidemic diseases affecting large populations
• Mask Characteristics: Distinguished by headdress, appearance varies considerably
• Modern Medical Correlation: Pandemic diseases, epidemics, communicable diseases, public health emergencies

16. Veddi Sanniya - Bubonic Plague

• Associated Conditions: Plague-like diseases with high mortality
• Mask Characteristics: Aggressive, predatory features suggesting rapid fatality
• Modern Medical Correlation: Bubonic plague, sepsis, rapidly progressive infections

17. Bihiri Sanniya - Deafness

• Associated Conditions: Hearing loss and ear diseases
• Mask Characteristics: Includes cobra extending from nose (cobras traditionally considered deaf), serpent hood on right side
• Modern Medical Correlation: Hearing loss, ear infections, acoustic neuroma, auditory processing disorders

18. Kola Sanniya - Black Death

• Associated Conditions: The most severe diseases, often fatal
• Mask Characteristics: Most elaborate mask incorporating miniature representations of all other 18 demons
• Modern Medical Correlation: Severe systemic diseases, multi-organ failure, terminal conditions

Additional Sanni Variations

Gulma Sanniya - Parasitic Worms

• Associated Conditions: Hookworm, intestinal parasites
• Mask Characteristics: Pale complexion reflecting hookworm anemia
• Modern Medical Correlation: Parasitic infections, intestinal worms

Gedi Sanniya - Skin Diseases

• Associated Conditions: Boils, skin lesions
• Mask Characteristics: Skin lesions resembling carbuncles on face
• Modern Medical Correlation: Dermatological conditions, abscesses, skin infections

Pith Sanniya - Bilious Diseases

• Associated Conditions: Liver and bile-related diseases
• Mask Characteristics: Yellow or orange complexion suggesting jaundice
• Modern Medical Correlation: Hepatitis, jaundice, liver diseases, gallbladder disorders

Kolam Masks: The Theater of Society

Kolam masks belong to the world of theater and satire rather than healing or demonology. Originating in the low-country coastal areas, Kolam performances are comic folk dramas that blend mythology, humor, and everyday village life.

Some of the most distinctive Kolam masks and their characters include:

• Hewa Kolam (Soldiers): Stern soldiers symbolizing authority.
  
   
• Maname Kolam: Characters from the epic Maname.
  
   
• Police Kolam: Satirical mockery of colonial policemen.
  
   
• Drummers (Bera Kolam): Masks for musicians, driving rhythm.
  
   
• Village Chief (Gama Rala Kolam): Reflects leadership, often mocked.
  
   
• Fox (Nariya Kolam): A trickster animal character.
  
   
• Sinha Kolam (Lion): Courage and national symbolism.
  
   
• Kapiri Kolam: Caricature of Arab/African traders.
  
   
• Muslim Kolam: Representation of Muslim traders, reflecting multicultural exchanges.
  
   

The Spiritual and Medical Framework

Integration with Ayurvedic Medicine

The use of masks in healing rituals represents a sophisticated understanding of psychosomatic medicine that predates modern psychiatric practices by centuries. These rituals combined Ayurvedic remedies with music, dance, and psychological suggestion, creating a holistic form of healing that addressed both physical and mental ailments.

The therapeutic process typically involved:

1. Diagnosis: Determining which demon or spirit caused illness.
   
    
2. Preparation: Ritual spaces arranged with offerings.
   
    
3. Performance: Exorcist wears the correct mask and dances.
   
    
4. Community Participation: Music, chanting, and collective healing.
   
    
5. Conclusion: Blessings to protect the patient afterward.
   
    

Medical Significance and Clinical Relevance

• Disease Categorization: Differentiation between acute vs. chronic, infectious vs. psychiatric.
  
   
• Symptom Recognition: Mask design reflects visible clinical features.
  
   
• Holistic Approach: Addressed body, mind, and spirit.
  
   
• Therapeutic Intervention: Used ritual and drama as psychological healing.
   

Astrological and Cosmological Connections

Masks were tied to astrological cycles and cosmology. Different rituals included:

• Bali Rituals: Neutralized negative planetary influences.
  
   
• Madu Rituals: Offerings to gods for prosperity.
  
   
• Tovil Ceremonies: Exorcism-style dances to drive away demons and illness.
  
   

Wood Selection and Preparation

The traditional masks are carved from light Balsa like Kaduru wood (Nux vomica). This choice of material is not arbitrary; Kaduru wood possesses several ideal characteristics:

• Lightweight yet durable construction
• Soft texture that allows for intricate carving detail
• Natural properties that accept paint and lacquer well
• Cultural significance in traditional Sri Lankan craftsmanship
• Sustainable availability in coastal marsh regions

Carving and Artistic Process

The process of creating a traditional mask follows time-honored steps that have remained largely unchanged for centuries:

1. Wood Preparation: carved and brilliantly lacquered in different hues, to produce striking effects
2. Initial Carving: Master craftsmen shape the basic form using traditional tools
3. Detail Work: Intricate features like bulging eyes, fanged teeth, and decorative elements are carefully carved
4. Surface Preparation: The wood is smoothed and prepared for painting
5. Color Application: Bright natural colors and symbolic patterns are applied using traditional pigments
6. Lacquering: Multiple coats of lacquer provide durability and the characteristic brilliant finish
7. Spiritual Blessing: Before being used in rituals or plays, the masks are blessed to ensure their spiritual power

Bloodthirsty faces with fangs and menacing teeth, bulging eyes and seven headed serpents, the masks displayed on the walls are brilliant pieces of art. From demons and gods and deities, to mythical birds and serpents these are brilliants works of art.

Cultural Institutions and Preservation

Ariyapala Mask Museum (Ambalangoda): Preserves history, educates, produces masks, and engages tourists.
Contemporary Use: Masks thrive in festivals, tourism, art, and design despite fewer traditional performances.

Masks in the Modern World: Adaptation and Evolution

• Artistic Expression: Masks appear in interior design, jewelry, textiles, and digital art.
  
   
• Global Recognition: Featured in major museums, academic studies, and cultural diplomacy.
   

Conclusion: The Enduring Power of Transformation

Traditional Sri Lankan masks represent far more than colorful artifacts—they are living embodiments of the island's history, healing practices, mythology, and social wisdom. They remind us that art, healing, and spirituality are interconnected, and their legacy continues to inspire both locally and globally.