Located within the bounds of the well-renowned and beautiful Galle Fort – a World Heritage Site listed by UNESCO lies a store with objects of great splendour and significance! Known by the name Sithuvili Gallery, the store is a treasure trove of local crafts, artworks, and antiquities.
As you step into the store you will indeed be delighted by the views of Intricately carved wood sculptures of men that would greet you with their curious look. As you move in further you would see rustic-looking antique objects that would become a great showpiece at your verandah. Vivid paintings that flaunt even the tiniest of details and a whole host of local crafts will light up your curiosity. The locally-made craft items here include objects made from coconut shells and husks. You would also see and be able to buy different variations of ‘Vesmuna’ – a mask that is a key attribute in local folklore and a ritual called the devil dance. There are also little trinkets of antique objects and other small objects which doubles in as souvenirs and special gifts for your friends and family back at home.
You could barely notice the passing of time while you are here and you would spend hours wandering around and taking in the details of the objects that are on display. Almost all the objects here are for sale and bear in mind that the vendor would initially give you a hard offer. So, make sure that you bargain for the price and buy the items only if you feel like you are getting the best value for the money you spend. If not, you could politely refuse the shop owner’s offer and still leave with pleasant memories of the objects you saw here.
