The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Rome has donated three traditional wooden Raksha masks to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Museum at its headquarters in Rome, marking the museum’s first anniversary on October 16, 2026.
The initiative was undertaken in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and the National Craft Council (NCC), with the aim of preserving and promoting Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage internationally.
Mask-making is a distinctive Sri Lankan folk-art tradition deeply rooted in rituals, storytelling and community ceremonies. Passed down through generations, the craft is known for its vibrant colours, intricate carvings and symbolic designs. Traditionally, masks also played a role in agrarian rituals, where they were believed to protect crops from diseases, droughts and pests.
The donated collection features three masks created by master craftsman R.M.L. Ravindra of Ambalangoda, a second-generation practitioner of the traditional family craft.
The collection includes the Cobra Demon Mask, known as Naga Raksha, which symbolises protection, fertility, wisdom and guardianship. Its imagery reflects traditional associations between snakes, water resources, rainfall and agricultural fertility.
The Peacock Demon Mask, or Mayura Raksha, represents beauty, prosperity and good fortune, highlighting the connections between wildlife, agricultural landscapes and biodiversity.
The third mask, the Fire Demon Mask, known as Ginidal Raksha, features flame-like carvings and symbolises the power of fire to ward off evil and purify. It also reflects traditional field-clearing practices before cultivation, representing renewal and the beginning of a new agricultural season.
The donation was accompanied by a video message highlighting the importance of safeguarding cultural heritage. The video featured Sri Lanka’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the FAO, Satya Rodrigo; FAO Head of Outreach and Promotions Clara Velez Fraga; and International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) Director-General Aruna Francesca Maria Gujral.
The contribution reflects Sri Lanka’s longstanding partnership with the FAO and its commitment to sharing the country’s agricultural heritage and cultural traditions with the international community.
Through the donation, the Embassy aims to provide visitors from around the world with an insight into the close relationship between nature, ritual and agriculture in Sri Lankan society.
