Art and craft paves way for new lease in life

Creating original art and craft inspired by the natural wealth of the Udawalawe National Park whilst empowering a community to reach their true potential.

Traditionally, a community of brick-makers, the villagers lost their ability to continue with their long-established livelihood mainly due to competition from mechanised operations.

Mankada is an initiative of the MJF Charitable Foundation Centre for Empowerment through Traditional Sri Lankan Arts and Crafts which was set up primarily to support and sustainably empower marginalised communities living on the periphery of the Udawalawe National Park in south eastern Sri Lanka.

Traditionally, a community of brick-makers, they lost their ability to continue with their time-honoured livelihood mainly due to competition from mechanised operations.

Dilmah Conservation worked closely with the MJF Charitable Foundation to set up Mankada as a training centre cum display gallery and commissioned a master potter to train the community to produce items that have better market value. A state of the art kiln and mechanised pottery wheels enable the women potters of Mankada to produce a variety of objects. They include one of a kind handmade earthenware, replicas of animals, pendants, mugs, teapots, tea bag holders and a variety of beautiful and original craft, and terracotta jewellery.

The creative inspiration behind a majority of Mankada products are based on the variety of animal species found inside the Udawalawe National Park. These ethically handmade products are shared with consumers worldwide through the Dilmah distributor network.

A key cause promoted by this ethical centre for pottery and handcraft is the conservation of the Asian elephant. Earthenware mugs, pendants and other handmade pieces endorsing this effort are specially designed at Mankada.

So many of us received employment opportunities through this project. I was able to improve my family’s living conditions, buy land and build a house with what I earned.

- Anoma Perera,

a potter employed at the Mankada Traditional Arts and Crafts Centre

World Cup winning All Blacks coach, Sir Graham Henry looks on while Master Potter Ajith Perera works on new earthenware designs for the Mankada Pottery Centre.

A unique addition to the collection of earthenware products at Mankada are the intricately handmade pendants portraying endemic mammal and fish species found throughout Sri Lanka. The proficient female potters also produce vibrant and stunning impressions of terra-cotta vessels. These creations are marketed to consumers worldwide through the Dilmah Partner Network. Mankada creations continue to be recognised for their sustainability and artistic value all across the world.