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There’s plenty of decent shopping
opportunities to match the range of eating options in Sri
Lanka. Colombo and Kandy have modern shopping malls where
all typical consumer goods can be bought, as well as some
upscale arcades in five-star hotels.
Sri Lankan handicrafts include curios and souvenirs made
from brass, silver, bone, wood and ceramics. Woven items
such as coir mats, cane baskets and reed weavings also make
for nice gifts, as do the wonderful batik and lace works and
laquerware. Masks are among the most interesting traditional
handicrafts available. They are still used in dances,
festivals and religious processions depicting demons,
spirits, kings and queens. The masks produced for tourists
are usually of a very high quality and make for excellent
souvenirs.
Traditional handicrafts can be bought in small shops in most
towns around the island. For a real local shopping
experience, head to Colombo’s Pettah Market where fresh
foods and crafts are sold at the hundreds of stalls in this
outdoor bazaar. In general, prices are very reasonable, but
feel free to haggle if you want to try and lower the cost. |
