Music & Dances Of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has its own vibrant culture and customs. Music and dances of Sri Lanka form a very important part of this culture. Religion in Sri Lanka has influenced the majority of the art forms be it performing or otherwise and so with Buddhism being the major religion of the country, it is to be expected that music and dances of Sri Lanka will reflect this heritage to a major extent.
Music in the country has a heavy influence on Buddhism, it is said that this religion arrived in the island with Lord Buddha’s visit in 300 BC. Following the visit the local populace began converting to Theravada sect of Buddhism and this faith is rooted in the Sri Lankan music. Some of the instruments that are used in music in Sri Lanka are Gata Bera, Thammatama, Yak Bera, Udakkiya, Hand Rabana, Daula, Bench Rabbana, a very new drum called Gaula has been added to this list. This new drum was created by one of the noted Sri Lankan musicians Kalasoori Piyasara Shiladhipati. Gaula is barrel shaped and contains one head from Gata Bera and one from Daula. Broadly music of Sri Lanka can be categorized in to the following;
- Traditional folk music of Sri Lanka
- Local drama music
- Hindustani classical music
- South Indian classical music
- Tamil and Hindustani film music
- Western Classical music
- Sinhala Light Music

Music and dances in Sri Lanka has equal importance in their society. Dance in Sri Lanka came in 4th century BC to banish natural disasters and sicknesses. Polonnaruwa period which was in 15th century AD had immense Chola influence and Sri Lankan folk dances started evolving. More classical dance forms were associated with various rituals and ceremonies, some centuries old and are based on the indigenous belief of the people before Buddhism came to accepted as the religion of the island. Dance forms in Sri Lanka vary according to the regional and local traditions. Everything is different like dresses, drums, songs, way of dancing and movements of hands, legs and fingers.