Sri Lankan souvenirs

1. MASKS

Wood-carved masks have been an age-old means of scaring off evil spirits, and today, these vicious visages make excellent keepsakes. Visitors keen on exploring Sri Lankan mask culture (and, of course, picking up souvenir masks) should visit Ambalangoda, a western seaside town famous for its ceremonial Raksha masks, puppets, and ‘devil dancers.’

2. JEWELS

Rubies and sapphires are two of Sri Lanka’s most famous jewels, along with moonstones; Ceylon sapphires are blue sapphires unique to Sri Lanka and are known for their singular colour and lustre. It is generally safer to buy gems and jewellery in stores that are accredited by either the Sri Lanka Gem & Jewellery Association or the International Coloured Gemstone Association.

3. TEXTILES

4. BIG BRASS

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For fashionistas seeking something special, Sri Lanka has several up-and-coming designers who incorporate modern designs and minimalist features into sarees and sarongs. If the east-meets-west look isn’t your thing, you can find beautiful traditional hand-loomed sarongs (for men) and sarees (for women) all across the island. Linen is also a popular material, as well as lace, which was introduced to Sri Lanka in the 16th century.

Metal is big business in Kandy, thanks to Sri Lankan temples and weddings’ high demand for delicate brass work in the form of lamps, vases, and other metalcraft. There’s also a wide range of religious icons of Buddha and Hindu gods. The town of Pilimathalawa, just by Kandy, is especially known for its high-quality brassware.

5. CEYLON TEA

Naturally, tea is one of Sri Lanka’s most popular souvenirs. Ceylon refers to the region, and not to a specific plant or strain of tea. Ceylon tea has various categories that any tea seller would be happy to show you; most Ceylon teas are black, but there are also green Assamese teas, and white ‘silver tip’ teas. Tea purists should look for single-estate, high-grown teas that pack a punch — the cheapest and best way to find good tea is to scour the local markets and supermarkets. The very same teas sold in tourist areas, tea plantations, and factories are often very overpriced.