Ambalangoda

If you are travelling south along the coast towards Galle, you will happen upon a town where you will see mostly fearsome looking masks on display at establishments lining the road. This is Ambalangoda, a town located at a distance of 86 km from Colombo, famous for the carving of masks used in exorcism ceremonies and several forms of dance-drama.

 
Ambalangoda is a place of adventure and discovery rather than relaxation and luxury. It possesses a long stretch of wild beach you can explore all to yourself, and this gives you a feeling of seclusion hard to find on this coast. Ambalangoda is a large, bustling market town with stalls selling anything from fresh fish to fruit and vegetables. You should visit Ambalangoda for its beach, its location, and for its history of mask carving and dance. The sandy beach is a good distance from the main road and is packed with colourful catamarans and fishing boats representing the main livelihood of Ambalangoda. It is great for exploring and witnessing Sri Lankan daily life.
 

Ambalangoda is most well-known for mask making and as a centre for south coast traditional dancing. Masks are created for three different types of dancing rituals: kolam, which tell satirical stories of traditional Sri Lankan colonial life, sanni, or devil dancing masks, used in a type of exorcism ceremony to heal people of persisting illnesses believed inflicted by demons, and raksha masks, which are used in festivals and processions. Ambalangoda is also known for hand-woven cotton, finely carved wooden doors, and screens and lintels.

Branching out of town, there are some interesting excursions you can take. Seven kilometres inland from the main road north of town is south Asia’s longest sleeping Buddha (35m), located at the Sailatalaramaya Vihara. At Balapitiya, five kilometres north of Ambalangoda, you can also take a boat trip up the Madu Ganga (river). So if you have time on your way down or up the west coast you should try to spend a few nights in this charming coastal town.
 
(Content Source : Travel Sri Lanka Magazine)
(Image Source   : mysrilankaholidays.com)