Music And Entertainment

Below is a video of traditional Sri Lankan music. With pictures of the drums that are being played.

There are three types of drums: one faced two faced flat faced. Music in Sri Lanka is played every where, and practically every day. But most importantly anual events.

Thammattama

Dawula

Yak-bera

Gatabera

Geta Bera

This is the main drum used to accompany dances in the Kandyan or the Hill Country tradition. This drum is turned out of wood from Ehela, Kohomba or Kos tree. The drum tapers towards the ends and on the right side, the opening is covered with the skin of a monkey while the opening on the other side is covered with a cattle skin.

Yak Bera

This drum is referred to by many names among which are the Ruhunu Bera, Devol Bera and Ghoskaya. This drum normally accompanies the dances from the low country, especially the mask dancing connected with rituals and the folk play Kolam. The drum is turned out of wood taken from the Kohomba, Ehela, Kitul or Milla trees. This is a cylindrical drum, fairly long and is played on both sides with hands

Thammattama

This is also referred to as the Twin Drum. This drum is played with two sticks. The two drums are of different sizes and while the right one produces a louder sound, the left one produces a looser (and deeper) sound. The drums which have only the top side covered either with the skin of the cow or a buffalo.

Dawula

This drum is used in most of the Buddhist ceremonies all over the island. This drum is cylindrical, but much shorter than the Yak Bera. An important feature of this drum is that one side is played with the hand while the other side is played with a stick.

Udakkiya

This instrument is about 1 feet in length and is shaped like a sand clock. Udakkiya is made by carving either the suriya or ahala timber into two apertures. These apertures are then bound tightly with the leather of the monkey or the iguana and both the sides are connected with tightly stretched twine. Udakkiya is played with two sticks called walayan.