Question 1

What is Kadawata Sanniya?

Accepted Answer

Kadawata Sanniya is one of the eighteen demonic figures in the Sanni Yakuma, a traditional Sinhalese healing ritual. It is associated with abdominal and bowel-related ailments. Its mask is used by a ritual specialist during an exorcism ceremony to identify and expel the illness.

Question 2

What does the Kadawata Sanniya mask look like?

Accepted Answer

Like other sanniya masks, the Kadawata Sanniya mask features an exaggerated, grimacing face with bulging eyes and a wide open mouth, painted in bold colours including red, white, and yellow. The expression conveys the distress associated with the affliction it represents. Masks are carved from kaduru wood following traditional iconographic rules.

Question 3

Where are Sanniya masks made in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

The primary centre of sanniya mask production is Ambalangoda, a town on Sri Lanka's southwestern coast between Colombo and Galle. Artisan families there have preserved the carving and painting traditions for generations. Several workshops and mask museums in Ambalangoda welcome visitors.

Question 4

How many sanniya masks are there in a full set?

Accepted Answer

A complete set comprises eighteen figures, collectively called the Daha Ata Sanniya. Each figure governs a specific illness or affliction and has its own distinct mask, ritual sequence, and set of offerings. Kadawata Sanniya is one of the eighteen and relates to abdominal complaints.

Question 5

Are Sanniya masks still used in real ceremonies today?

Accepted Answer

Full Sanni Yakuma ceremonies do still occur in low-country villages, particularly in the Southern and Western Provinces of Sri Lanka, though they are less common than in previous generations. The rituals are performed by trained exorcists called adura for patients believed to be afflicted by a specific sanniya demon.

Question 6

What wood is used to carve Sanniya masks?

Accepted Answer

Traditional sanniya masks are carved from the wood of the kaduru tree (Strychnos nux-vomica). The wood is lightweight, easy to carve, and considered ritually suitable by the artisan communities of Ambalangoda. After carving, the masks are painted using a conventional palette of red, white, yellow, and black.

Question 7

Can I buy an authentic Kadawata Sanniya mask as a souvenir?

Accepted Answer

Yes — sanniya masks are widely available as decorative and collectible pieces from workshops and cultural shops, particularly in Ambalangoda and Colombo. Quality varies, so it is worth looking for pieces that follow traditional iconographic proportions and pigmentation rather than simplified commercial variants.

Kadawata Sanniya

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