10 Memorable Souvenirs you could buy in Sri Lanka

There’s a long history of clay and earthenware pottery being used as self-cooling water jugs here in Sri Lanka. Now, there’s a resurgence of the craft as local makers make self-cooling water bottles to fit our modern sensibilities. Make sure to pick up this unique water bottle as a Sri Lankan keepsake.
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The Coffee Flower has a unique, tropical and floral smell. It’s been an invisible ingredient in fragrances for years but now Sri Lanka is bringing it to the fore with small spice gardens in the Central province selling perfumes and fragrances made with authentic Sri lankan coffee flower. For a uniquely Sri Lankan afterscent and keepsake, make sure to pick a bottle up!

Yes,you read that right! Sri Lanka produces note paper from recycled Elephant dung.
Elephant dung is an abundant resource in Sri Lanka, with our dense Elephant population. With this wood paper alternative, you can take home a keepsake of Sri Lankan innovation and also make a statement against deforestation.
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Sri Lanka’s hand weaving crafts have a long history, one that has survived for over 3000 years and remain almost unchanged in practice, technique and craftsmanship. And now, you can shop for some of our best hand woven goods, such as totes, sarongs, bags and even baskets, from Fair-Trade Certified manufacturers. Hop around to the Good Market, a fair-trade pop-up market that happens every Saturday in Galle and Colombo, to find some of the best Fair-Trade hand woven goods that you can buy.
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With a long and storied past, Sri Lanka’s metalworking industry is quite fascinating. Within it, Sri Lanka’s brassware deserves a special mention because of its auspicious uses, as oil lamps and small figurines, in traditional ceremonies. Now, top quality brass souvenirs are available all around the island, from small figurines of deities to larger vases, lamps and decorative pieces.
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Woodcarving is as old a tradition as any in Sri Lanka. And with it comes Sri Lanka’s own Coconut shell souvenirs. As a country whose life blood can be measured in coconuts, it’s only natural that our finest artisans turn to the hard coconut shell to create decorative figurines, vases, lamps and even cooking utensils. It’s a uniquely Sri Lankan memento that speaks to the ingenuity and the innovative reuse of a food by-product.
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Tea is King in Sri Lanka and rightfully so as Sri Lanka remains one of the top producers in the world. Make your way to the Central hills of the Island and you can watch the tea being manufactured, from the plantation to your tea cup, right in front of you, and walk out with your very own finely primed tea supply to last till your next trip here.
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Did you know that Ceylon cinnamon is found nowhere else in the world and is generally accepted by culinarians the world over to be superior in quality? Hop into a local market to shop for the world’s best Cinnamon along with all the other spices Sri Lanka uses, such as cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, mace, coriander, cumin, ginger and that which no Sri Lankan meal is complete without: chilli.
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It’s not for nothing that Sri Lanka was once known as the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’ and was also known by an ancient name meaning ‘Island of Gems’. Even today, Sri Lanka is a treasure trove of precious and semi-precious gemstones, with moonstones and blue sapphires taking prime spots. Visit a gem museum to learn about how these stones are mined and drop into a gem shop to buy your very own Sri Lankan sapphire!
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Raaksha, or Devil, masks are a common sight in Sri Lanka and may as well be one of Sri Lanka’s more popular motifs Island wide. Traditionally used in folk dances to ward off evil spirits, Raaksha masks are now gaining popularity again, thanks to a fusion of traditional culture and modern art. Many local craftsmen sell large varieties of masks, hand carved and hand painted with care. If you’re thinking of picking one up, Ambalangoda is the place to go!
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