Lakpahana the undisputed leader of the Sri Lankan handicraft gifts and souvenir market retails only Sri Lankan made craft. It is a private sector organization started by Desamanya Mrs. Siva Obeyesekere in 1973. Lakpahana has for 46 years been helping local artisans for many decades. Mrs. Obeyesekere has passed all these traditions in craft to her grandson Dhevan de Saram just as the traditional artisans pass on their crafts and skills. Lakpahana is a keeper of these traditions. Many artisans depend on Lakpahana to keep the crafts and traditions alive. The simple motto which Lakpahana functions on is giving joy, by keeping traditions alive.

Lakpahana connects the discerning customer with many extraordinary Sri Lankan master artisans. Creative artisans have the freedom to make beautiful original crafts. Discerning customers have the unique opportunity of purchasing hand made products of quality at affordable prices. They have the joy of helping to nurture and elevate the crafts of Sri Lankan artisans. Lakpahana safeguards the artisans. Each product bought by a customer will give the artisan financial and motivational strength to carry on these age old crafts.

The artisans keep alive the traditional skills whilst infusing modern designs created by the designers involved at Lakpahana. Lakpahana therefore showcases local skills and talents through innovative products that appeal to international requirements. In the coming years we are looking forward to increase our satisfied customer base and increase and improve the sustainability of Sri Lankan crafts people.

Lakpahana is situated in Colombo 07, across from the Colombo Race Course. It has quickly gained popularity amongst customers for its wide array of Sri Lankan Handicrafts, offering an extensive range of choices for local and foreign customers.

Sri Lankan handicrafts production has been traditionally handed from generation to generation. It has strong linkage to the environment to the way of life, to the history, culture of the island and ceremonial ritual and daily life. It consists of many different products made out many different raw materials.

Folk crafts of a country also reveal a historical process of evolution in relations to the concept quality, techniques and material used. Craftsman attached to Lakpahana have earned an international reputation for quality, originality, variety of designs and motifs. Most of the finished products are fascinating expression of local concepts. The organization has won many UNESCO excellence awards for its products.

Basically the handicrafts products made in Sri Lanka are produced and patterned based on natural resources that are easily available in the country. In addition, due to the multi-racial composition of its citizens various types of craft products can be found and produced simultaneously. One of the main objectives of the Lakpahana is diversity and preservation of Sri Lankan’s handicrafts. It contributes in nurturing the heart, mind and soul of the craftspeople, artisans and artists in their pursuit of making traditional and contemporary crafts. Crafts are the symbols of a particular culture, because of that Lakpahana works to promote crafts and nurture craftsmen.

Lakpahana is a store which has exquisite silverware, silver jewellery, elegant brassware and pewter ware, beautifully patterned dumbara weaving mats, ladies handbags, etc. delicate lacquer ware ,intricate wood carvings, reed & rush ware, handloom items, embroidery, lace work, batik, educational toys, painted wooden wall hangings are some of the better known handicrafts.

Mat weaving is a craft, which is an old craft and exemplifies the cultural aspect. The origins, traditions and present form of the art of mat weaving using rush and reed dates back many centuries. In the early Stone Age people utilized the natural resources around them in order to meet the requirements of their day to day lives, be it hides for clothing, branches for roofing, reed for production of mats to sleep on.

Reed can be classified as a grass and is found growing amongst wetlands and marshy areas. In bygone days, paddy farmers would always have a plot of reed plants amidst their paddy field. A crop of this reed was used to produce baskets, sacks, mats, food covers and a host of other everyday items. Another aspect is that reed is long lasting and durable. Reed is the sole raw material in the production of mats in Sri Lanka. The growth of reed covers all directions in Sri Lanka, from Jaffna in the north to Hambanthota in the Deep South. The health benefits of sleeping on a reed mat are many. Firstly, reed mat placed on a flat surface, offers, critical support and comfort that is needed by the spine. The combination of using both hands and brain in weaving is said to be of immense therapeutic benefit.

The mat is not only a household utility item. It is an artifact. The Sri Lankan handmade mat has been decorated with various motifs from immemorial times. The motifs are called “Rata” in Sinhala and the mat woven with the motifs are called “Rata Pedura” (Decorated Mat). Among the traditional motifs there are floral motifs, animal motifs, geometrical motifs and also several miscellaneous motifs. Some of these Traditional motifs are “Samadaramal ratawa, Nelummal ratawa, Atapethimal ratawa, Mirismal ratawa, Hansaputtuwa, Makuluwa ratawa, Muwa ratawa, Vankagiriya ratawa, Diyarali ratawa, Katuru ratawa, Alli ratawa, Wellawehum ratawa, Kathira ratawa and Panimal ratawa, etc.” There also mat decorated with the letters of Sinhala alphabet and the English alphabet as well as numerals. What is significant in the weaving of these intricate motifs are that they are woven without using any tool or an instrument. These “Rata pedura” mats are available at Lakpahana.

Culture also includes traditional island sweetmeats. When searching for the most delicious and freshly made traditional treats. Head over to Lakpahana and indulge. Choosing from a variety of items such as stuffed veralu, coconut toffee, kalu dodol, narang kavum and unduwel. The items are made fresh on a daily basis. Everyday favourites such as murukku, marshmallows, aasmi, kokis, kavum and mung kavum are available in addition to neatly wrapped packages of love cake, bibikkan and jaggery cake.

Lunu dehi as is a popularly known is an integral part of Sri Lankan cuisine and even culture. These are just perfect for the festive season or even as a gift. Cake orders can be placed too. Tala bola, jiggery, coconut and milk toffees stock the shelves in addition to the other yummy treats. Lakpahana also has freshly prepared lamprais on orders. Other items available at Lakpahana include jars of bees’ honey (50ml/100ml), kithul jaggery, kithul treacle, lime pickle, seeni sambol and chutneys.

Lakpahana is open every day. From 9.30 a.m. – 6.30 p.m. Monday to Saturday. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Sundays and holidays.